Peskov on Russian TNWs in Belarus: new sanctions cannot influence Russia’s plans

Russia is determined to proceed with its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, regardless of possible new sanctions, says the Kremlin Press Secretary Dmitry Peskov.

“The president has explained everything in his Saturday interview. I have nothing to add,” Peskov told the press on Monday.

Two days earlier, Putin gave an interview to the VGTRK propagandist Pavel Zarubin, on his “Moscow. Kremlin. Putin” talk show. Among other things, Putin told Zarubin that Russia was going to deploy tactical weapons in Belarus. Russia had also, Putin said, given Belarus an Iskander missile system compatible with Russian TNWs.

Putin noted that it was the president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, who had asked Russia to deploy TNWs on Belarusian territory. According to the Russian president, Russia is doing so “without violating its international commitments to nuclear non-proliferation.”