"We will stop at nothing if we protect our country," threatens Lukashenko

Belarusian ruler Alexander Lukashenko has also threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend his country in the conflict with the West. "We will ensure our sovereignty and independence by any means, including the nuclear arsenal," Lukashenko said in his address to the nation on Friday. In addition to the tactical nuclear weapons already promised by Russia, Belarus also wants to agree with the Kremlin on the stationing of strategic nuclear weapons in an emergency. Tactical nuclear weapons have a significantly shorter range.

Lukashenko, 68, also claimed control of the tactical nuclear weapons in his more than three-hour speech to hundreds of officials and guests. He contradicted Russian statements, according to which the nuclear weapons in Belarus should only be stored. "These are our weapons that will enable our sovereignty and independence," he said. He once again claimed that the West wanted to invade and destroy Belarus.

Lukashenko stressed that the stationing of Russian soldiers in Belarus was his initiative. This is to ward off attacks from the west, he claimed. "We will stop at nothing if we protect our country," threatened the ruler, who is no longer recognized as president by the EU. The use of nuclear weapons is necessary when there is a risk of destruction in one's own country, Lukashenko later specified in a discussion.

After voluntarily surrendering its nuclear weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union, Belarus is now receiving nuclear missiles for the first time since the 1990s. In Belarus, Lukashenko, who is politically and economically dependent on Kremlin chief Vladimir Putin, had called for these weapons to be stationed even before the war. He also had the constitution changed, which no longer stipulates a nuclear-weapon-free status. According to Putin, training on weapons in Belarus should begin this Monday, and the depots for the nuclear missiles should be completed by July 1st.

"Kick-off Politics" is WELT's daily news podcast. The most important topic analyzed by WELT editors and the dates of the day. Subscribe to the podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, among others, or directly via RSS feed.