Russia to station nuclear weapons in Belarus; US reacts cautiously

MOSCOW - Russia will station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday, sending a warning to Nato over its military support for Ukraine and escalating a stand-off with the West.

While Mr Putin said the move would not violate nuclear nonproliferation promises, it is one of Russia's most pronounced nuclear signals since the beginning of its invasion of Ukraine 13 months ago.

The United States the world's other nuclear superpower has reacted cautiously to Mr Putin's statement, with a senior administration official saying there were no signs Moscow planned to use its nuclear weapons.

Mr Putin likened his plans to the US stationing its weapons in Europe, and said Russia would not be transferring control to Belarus.

But this could be the first time since the mid-1990s that Russia is basing such weapons outside the country.

"There is nothing unusual here either: firstly, the United States has been doing this for decades.

They have long deployed their tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of their allied countries," Mr Putin told state television. "We agreed that we will do the same without violating our obligations, I emphasise, without violating our international obligations on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons."

Nato on Sunday criticised Russia for its "dangerous and irresponsible" nuclear rhetoric.

"Russia's reference to Nato's nuclear sharing is totally misleading.  Nato allies act with full respect of their international commitments," said a Nato spokesman.

Ukraine on Sunday called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council over Russia's announcement.