MINSK, 6 December (BelTA) – Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko has approached President of Russia Vladimir Putin with a request to deploy Russia’s latest missile systems Oreshnik in Belarus. The relevant proposal was put forward at a session of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Belarus and Russia in Minsk on 6 December, BelTA has learned.
The head of state remarked that Belarus is very worried about the situation in Western Europe. Particularly along the Belarusian borders with Poland and Lithuania. “We estimate this danger is even larger than the danger from Ukraine, which is at war,” he stressed. The president pointed out that troops of Poland, Lithuania are getting deployed in the vicinity of the Belarusian border. NATO armed forces from other countries, including from Germany, are moving to this area. “In other words, the situation is very intense. Poland spends huge resources on arming its army. If they want to live with us in peace as they claim, why do they spend billions of U.S. dollars on weapons then?” Aleksandr Lukashenko asked a rhetoric question. “In other words, we are very concerned about it. And it is already a threat to our joint military force [of the Union State of Belarus and Russia].”
In connection to this the president addressed Vladimir Putin: “I would like to publicly ask you to have new weapon systems and primarily Oreshnik systems deployed in Belarus’ territory. It would have a serious calming effect on certain minds, who are already ready to fight against Belarus.” In his opinion, such deployment is also advisable within the framework of the recently adopted Security Concept and the Treaty on Security Guarantees within the framework of the Union State of Belarus and Russia.
“We have certain locations where we can deploy these weapons. On one condition: targets for these weapons will be selected by Belarus’ military and political leadership. And for now you will teach us how to use these weapons if they are deployed. Specialists from the Russian Federation should fire Oreshnik military payloads at certain targets. You know how to do it. You’ve demonstrated it recently,” Aleksandr Lukashenko said.
In his words, it would significantly enhance the defense of the Union State of Belarus and Russia and certainly the defense of the Belarusian territory.
The president remarked that after Russian tactical nuclear weapons were deployed in Belarus upon his request, he often hears criticism. If Oreshnik missile systems are deployed, there will be no reasons for this criticism because it is not a nuclear weapon. Although under certain conditions the damage Oreshnik can deliver is comparable to that of a nuclear strike but without radioactive pollution.
Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that he had made the request not only personally but on behalf of the entire Belarusian nation.
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