Putin in Belarus to discuss security, tactical nuclear weapons exercises

MOSCOW (Reuters) – Russian President Vladimir Putin arrived in Belarus, Moscow's closest ally, on Thursday for talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that are expected to focus on security and exercises with tactical nuclear weapons.

Minsk is expected to take part in exercises aimed at simulating preparations for launching the weapons, which are smaller nuclear warheads intended for use on battlefields.

Putin, quoted by Russian news agencies as arriving late in the evening, said he had discussed issues of cooperation with Belarus at a cabinet meeting in Moscow.

“Today and tomorrow we will discuss all this, including security issues to which we have devoted considerable attention,” Putin was quoted as saying. “There is a lot to say. Everything is stable and everything is going well for us.”

Discussions on the second phase of exercises with tactical weapons were also on the agenda.

“This is partly explained by the direct participation of our Belarusian friends and colleagues from the military sphere in these events.”

Russian news agencies said the two presidents continued their informal talks on Thursday evening, ahead of a full day of meetings on Friday.

The Russian Defense Ministry said this week that Russian forces have begun the first stage of exercises aimed at simulating preparation for the launch of tactical nuclear weapons.

Moscow linked the exercises to what it called “militant statements” by Western officials, including French President Emmanuel Macron, which it said posed a threat to its security.

Nuclear analysts say the exercises are intended as a warning signal by Putin to deter the West from deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine. Western countries have provided weapons and intelligence to kyiv, but refrained from sending troops.

Belarus has provided logistical support to Russia during its conflict with Ukraine, with Russian forces entering Ukraine from Belarusian territory during their initial offensive against kyiv in February 2022. But Lukashenko has not sent any troops.

Lukashenko, in power since 1994, is a longtime ally of Putin and grew closer to him after winning his support against mass protests denouncing Lukashenko's 2020 re-election as rigged.

The official Belarusian news agency Belta reported on Thursday that Lukashenko had appointed Pavel Muraveyko as the new chief of staff of the Belarusian army.

(Reporting by Reuters, writing by Felix Light, editing by Andrew Osborn, Ron Popeski and Lincoln Feast.)