Russia's Nuclear Deployment in Belarus as Response to NATO Expansion and Ukrainian Counter Offensive

The Kremlin has defended its decision to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus, stating that it is a response to NATO's expansion towards Russia. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg had criticized the move, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov argued that it was necessary for Russia's security. Finland recently joined the NATO alliance, doubling the length of the alliance's land border with Russia, and Sweden is also set to join. Russia has not given a clear timetable for moving the weapons to Belarus, but Putin said the construction of storage facilities should be complete by the start of July.