Ukraine has requested an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council in connection with Russia's statements about the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry noted that Russia's recent statements about its intentions to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus undermine the principles of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, the nuclear disarmament architecture and the international security system as a whole.
It is emphasized that the intention to deploy nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, contrary to its obligations under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, will further turn this country into a hostage of the Kremlin and will have catastrophic consequences for its future.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry called on G7 and the European Union to warn the Belarusian authorities of the far-reaching consequences for Belarus if it agrees to host Russia's tactical nuclear weapons on its territory.
In addition, Ukraine expects an effective counteraction to the Kremlin's nuclear blackmail by the United Kingdom, China, the United States and France, including as permanent members of the UN Security Council, and demands that an extraordinary meeting of the UN Security Council be convened immediately for this purpose.
Earlier, Putin announced his intention to deploy nuclear weapons in Belarus. He emphasized that he had allegedly been asked to do so by Belarus's Alyaksandr Lukashenka.