Lukashenko Adds To Heightened Nuclear Rhetoric

Wires carrying comments from Belarussian President Alexander Lukashenko appearing to threaten the preemptive use of nuclear weapons, and confirming the presence of "dozens" of Russian nuclear weapons in Belarus.

• Lukashenko: "Several dozens of Russian nuclear weapons deployed in Belarus... in case of attack on Belarus, Minsk and Moscow will instantly respond with all kinds of weapons."
• According to RIA, the Belarus Defence Ministry said it is, "considering it legitimate to use all possible means for a preventive response to attempts of aggression," and adding that, "deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is response to aggressive policy of unfriendly countries."
• The comments are the latest in a escalation of nuclear rhetoric which appears to have been triggered by US Congressional approval of roughly USD$60 billion in new aid to Ukraine - funds which could stall Russia's recent military advances and allow Ukraine to continue to pursue a strategy of extraterritorial strikes within the Russian Federation and Russian occupied Crimea.
• Polish President Andrzej Duda said in an interview this week: “If our allies decide to deploy nuclear weapons as part of nuclear sharing on our territory as well... we are ready for it -” leading to concerns of greater nuclear proliferation on the NATO border with Russia and Belarus.
• Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a conference in Moscow this week: "The Westerners are teetering dangerously on the brink of a direct military clash between nuclear powers, which is fraught with catastrophic consequences."