Belarus

Russia pumps up pressure on Belarus to open new front in Ukraine war, eyes anti-NATO ops. - WSJ

Sources told the WSJ that if Belarus were used for a Russian attack, it could be aimed at testing NATO defenses or more attempts at undermining support for Ukraine.

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko attend a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, in Moscow, Russia February 26, 2026.
Belarusian President and presidential candidate Alexander Lukashenko meets with the media after voting in Belarus' presidential election in the capital Minsk on January 26, 2025.

Israel rebukes Belarus’s Lukashenko for ‘Gaza is a holocaust’ comments, dicussion of ‘Jewish lobby’

A serviceman takes part in the "Zapad-2025" (West-2025) joint Russian-Belarusian military drills at a training ground near the town of Borisov, east of the capital Minsk, on September 15, 2025.

Belarus holds nuclear weapons exercises, says drills are not 'aimed at other states'

A part of a Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicle, which according to the Latvian National Armed Forces, flew into Latvian airspace and crashed in Kraslavas region, Latvia, in this handout image obtained by Reuters on March 25, 2026.

Drone from Russia enters Estonia, hits power station as others cross into Latvia


Russian ally Belarus starts 'mobilization exercises'

Belarus allowed Russia to use it as one of the launchpads for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. It has held frequent exercises with Russia and let Russian forces use its bases.

 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to journalists during his visit to a military-industrial complex facility in the Minsk Region, Belarus June 13, 2023.

Deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus not time-limited - senior Russian diplomat

The deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus is Moscow's first move of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to journalists during his visit to a military-industrial complex facility in the Minsk Region, Belarus June 13, 2023.

Russian FM: Russia may use nuclear weapons for defense

Zakharova insisted that Russia was intent on maintaining the principle that nuclear war was inadmissible.

 Russian President Vladimir Putin chairs a meeting with members of the Security Council, via video link in Moscow, Russia June 2, 2023.

Belarus starts receiving Russian nuclear weapons - Lukashenko

The deployment is Moscow's first move of such warheads outside Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

 Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko speaks to journalists during his visit to a military-industrial complex facility in the Minsk Region, Belarus June 13, 2023.

Russia to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus next month - Putin

Putin announced in March he had agreed to deploy such weapons in Belarus, pointing to US deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in a host of European countries over many decades.

 Service members of the 38th Brest Separate Guards Air Assault Brigade of the Belarusian armed forces drive vehicles during a snap inspection of troops' combat readiness at an unknown location in Belarus, in this handout picture released December 13, 2022.

Five nations elected to UN Security Council, but Belarus denied

The Security Council is the only UN body that can make legally binding decisions such as imposing sanctions and authorizing use of force.

 THE UNITED NATIONS headquarters building in New York City, and the UN logo: Today’s UN needs to be reimagined and reformed to address the limited problems it can effectively handle, says the writer.

Belarus official: West left us no choice but to deploy nuclear arms

The United States has denounced the prospective deployment of nuclear weapons in Belarus but says its stance on the use of such weapons has not been altered.

Russian President Vladimir Putin shakes hands with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko during a meeting at the Novo-Ogaryovo state residence outside Moscow, Russia, February 17, 2023.

Russia won't be lectured on nuclear deployment, Moscow tells US

The United States has said the world faces the gravest nuclear danger since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis because of remarks by President Vladimir Putin during the Ukraine conflict.

Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers a speech during a ceremony to receive diplomatic credentials from newly appointed foreign ambassadors at the Alexander Hall of the Grand Kremlin Palace in Moscow, Russia, April 5, 2023.

EU condemns Russian deal to station nuclear warheads in Belarus

Russia moved ahead on Thursday with its plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whose leader said the warheads were already on the move.

Minsk, Belarus

Russia moves ahead with deployment of tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus

In Washington, State Department spokesperson Matthew Miller described the plans as "the latest example of irresponsible behavior that we have seen from Russia."

 Soldiers with the 80th Separate Air Assault Brigade use their phones next to an APC at the front line on Orthodox Christmas, during a ceasefire announced by Russia over the Orthodox Christmas period, from the frontline region of Kreminna, Ukraine, January 6, 2023.