Belarus has deployed Russian S-400, and Iskander missile systems, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said Monday.
“Today, we have deployed the S-400 systems and, most importantly, the Iskander system that you have handed over to us, as you promised six months ago,” he told reporters.
Lukashenko thanked Putin for “finding mutual understanding and support on all issues and making necessary decisions.” Lukashenko also remarked that the country is preparing its crew for planes that can carry a nuclear payload with Russia’s help.
According to Lukashenko, “this is not a threat to anyone.” “We should secure the Belarusian state. You have made a very decision and important step in supporting Belarus,” Lukashenko told Putin.
Earlier in October, the Belarusian Defense Ministry said that Belarus would receive the 9K720 Iskander guided missile systems and the S-400 Triumf air defense systems supplied by Russia soon.
“The defense minister [Viktor Khrenin] announced the incoming delivery of new equipment, which includes the Iskander guided missile systems and the S-400 air defense systems. The demonstration of the unmanned combat systems will take place in October,” the ministry said on Telegram.
In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin said during a meeting with his Belarusian counterpart, Alexander Lukashenko, that Russia was ready to modernize the Belarusian fleet of Su-25 attack aircraft with complexes capable of carrying various types of weapons and would supply the country with the Iskander-M nuclear-capable ballistic missile systems over the next several months.
In response, a senior US Defense Department official said that Washington took “seriously” Russia’s alleged threat to use nuclear weapons and criticized President Putin for talking about deploying nuclear missiles in Belarus.
In response, Poland had requested for US nuclear weapons to be deployed on its territory, though the White House denied receiving such a request.
Earlier in December, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that his country was ready to fulfill its obligations under the existing agreements with Russia.
Lukashenko met with Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who arrived in Minsk to hold talks with his Belarusian counterpart, Viktor Khrenin, and discuss pressing matters pertaining to bilateral military cooperation. The defense chiefs of Russia and Belarus signed a protocol to a 1997 bilateral agreement on the joint provision of regional security.
“In short, Belarusians will do everything that they are obligated to do under the open and real agreement [with Russia]. Have no doubt about that,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying by Belarusian state-run news agency Belta.
Lukashenko also praised the solidarity among Russian and Belarusian troops, saying that they were training “like one army” during combat readiness exercises of a joint regional military group.
“I think the Belarusian defense minister has already briefed you about the situation in Belarus, about the training and combat coordination of Belarusian and Russian troops that are stationed in Belarus. I have to say that we took this seriously. Both our officers and your officers are training troops. Both Belarusian and Russian officers are being trained,” Lukashenko said, adding that they will be able to repel any possible aggression.
The Belarusian president stressed that everything was running in accordance with his agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Via: Sputnik News Agency
