A senior Belarusian official, Alexander Volfovich, stated that due to the actions of Western countries, Belarus felt compelled to deploy Russian tactical nuclear weapons. He warned that Western nations should be mindful not to exceed certain limits on crucial strategic issues.

Volfovich further explained that the withdrawal of these weapons after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991 was a logical decision considering the security guarantees provided by the United States and the absence of any imposed sanctions.

Volfovich, speaking to an interviewer on state television, expressed his deep disappointment, stating that all the previous assurances and commitments have been completely shattered. The Belta news agency reported his words, emphasizing the sense of irreversible loss.

Belarus, under the leadership of President Alexander Lukashenko for almost three decades, has been Russia's closest ally among the former Soviet republics. It willingly allowed its land to be utilized for launching Russia's military intervention in Ukraine in February 2022.

In a recent development, Russia proceeded with a decision to station tactical nuclear weapons within Belarusian borders. This strategic move is intended to secure specific advantages on the battlefield.

Russia claims that its military operation in Ukraine was conducted as a response to what it perceives as a collective effort by the Western countries to wage a proxy war and inflict a defeat on Moscow.

Volfovich stated that the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus is a strategic deterrence measure. He expressed the hope that Western politicians, if they have any rationality left, would not cross this red line. He also warned that any use of even tactical nuclear weapons would result in irreversible consequences.

President Lukashenko recently announced that the weapons were in transit, but the exact timeline for their placement is still unknown.

While the United States has condemned the potential deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus, it maintains that its stance on the use of such weapons remains unchanged.

Prior to the invasion, Western sanctions had already been imposed on Belarus due to President Lukashenko's crackdown on human rights, specifically in response to the suppression of large-scale protests against his alleged fraudulent re-election in 2020.

Following their independence from Soviet rule, Belarus, Ukraine, and Kazakhstan agreed to relinquish their weapons and return them to Russia. This decision was made as part of international initiatives aimed at curbing the proliferation of weapons.