Belarus is ready to deploy nuclear weapons under the threat from NATO, Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation Andrey Rudenko said, according to Belta.
Andrei Rudenko said that Russia will consider different options, but the final decision depends on the reaction of the United States and NATO: "All issues are being considered. We have heard such proposals from our Belarusian allies. All options will be considered, but as I said, everything will depend mostly on the reaction we expect from the United States and the NATO bloc”.
The Deputy Foreign Minister of the Russian Federation noted that the official response from the United States and NATO on proposals for security assurances is important to Russia, "Currently, we are waiting for a reaction from the United States and NATO. Official ones".
On December 17, the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs took the unusual step of publishing draft U.S.-Russia and NATO-Russia agreements that encapsulate Moscow’s desired guarantees. The substance of the drafts and the way the Russians publicized them do not suggest a serious negotiating bid.
Russia’s draft “Agreement on Measures to Ensure the Security of the Russian Federation and the Member States of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization” would require that NATO members commit to no further enlargement of the alliance, including in particular to Ukraine.
In case of refusal, Russia threatens with "countermeasures".