Putin's best ally brandishes nuclear threat
Following Russia's presentation of its new nuclear doctrine, Belarusian President, Alexander Lukashenko, warned that Moscow would resort to nuclear weapons if NATO attacked the territory of the former Soviet republic.
"As soon as they attack us, that is, NATO, the Americans and the Poles (...), we will use nuclear weapons. And Russia will come to our aid," Lukashenko said.
He stressed that aggression against Belarus would mean "World War III" and added that the new doctrine confirmed this.
The inclusion of Belarus, Mr Putin's main ally in his military campaign in Ukraine, is one of the new features of the nuclear doctrine announced by the Russian leader on Wednesday.
"We reserve the right to use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Russia and Belarus as a member of the Union of States (...), including if the adversary uses conventional weapons and creates a vital threat to our sovereignty," he said.
(MH with AmBar/Source: Agency/Photo: Pixabay)