Putin: Russia will station nuclear weapons in Belarus

The Russian president Vladimir Putin announced plans yesterday to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighbouring Belarus. Mr Putin said the plan was in response to Britain's decision last week to provide Ukraine with armour-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium. Russia falsely claimed these rounds have nuclear components.

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Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has long asked for the weapons, Mr Putin said, speaking in an interview on Russian state television. He said construction of storage facilities for the weapons in Belarus would be completed by 1 July.