Vladimir Putin wants to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus and then Aleksandr Lukashenko has to comply.

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Putin turned Belarus into a voice empire. He wants to do the same with Ukraine. The kingdom of sound is under another kingdom and must follow orders as they come.

Russia and Belarus act as allies, but this is not cooperation between independent countries. Dictator Lukashenko is gradually becoming more and more dependent on Putin. In practice, Belarus is ruled from Moscow.

The dictator in Minsk has no support from his own people and has become completely dependent on Putin. Putin provided Lukashenko with financial support and cheap energy. Putin sent a large military force to Belarus last winter, under the pretext of taking part in drills. They became part of the invasion force that attacked Ukraine.

Now the Kremlin has found another pretext for deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus. Putin’s defense minister, Sergei Shoigu, claimed that the West was waging an “undeclared war” against Russia and Belarus. He believes that the West is doing everything it can to “prolong and escalate the armed conflict” in Ukraine.

That claim is false. It is actually Russia that is waging a war of aggression against Ukraine contrary to international law. It is Russia that bears responsibility for the seriously deteriorating security policy situation in Europe. It is Russia that constantly threatens the country’s nuclear arsenal.

It is the first time since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991 that Russia has deployed nuclear weapons in another country. This is a dangerous and irresponsible act, which only adds to the tension.

Russia has the largest nuclear arsenal in the world. It can reach potential targets without being stationed at a base in Belarus. The aim of the transfer of arms is only to scare the outside world away from supporting Ukraine. At the same time, Putin took Belarus as a nuclear hostage.

The Non-Proliferation Treaty, signed by the Soviet Union, prohibited the export of nuclear weapons and technology to countries that do not possess such weapons. The exception is when the nuclear power itself retains control of the weapons, as the Kremlin did in this case.

The Belarusian opposition-in-exile condemned the plan. They understand that by deploying nuclear weapons in Belarus, Putin is securing effective control over the country in the long term.

Putin will not accept that Ukrainians and Belarusians choose freedom and democracy. That’s why he went to war in Ukraine. Therefore, he ruled Belarus.