In response to Russian nukes in Belarus, the EU will “react as appropriate”

The EU has denounced the deal between Minsk and Moscow to host Russian nuclear weapons.

According to Peter Stano, spokesman for the EU’s foreign policy office, “This is not a step towards de-escalation; this is not a step towards decreasing the tension.”

Peter Stano said that the action only serves to escalate tensions and exposes Belarus’ cooperation with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“The European Union will, of course, be following very closely how this is implemented, and we will be reacting as appropriate,” he stated.

"This is not a step towards deescalation, this is not a step towards decreasing the tension," said Peter Stano, spokesperson for the EU's foreign policy arm @EEAS https://t.co/uwi4GWQ57r

— EUobserver (@euobs) May 25, 2023

Josep Borrell, the head of the EU’s foreign policy, made similar declarations in March of last year following the announcement of the intentions by Russia and Belarus. At the time, Borrell threatened to apply additional EU measures in a tweet.

The agreement between the two parties to deploy Russian tactical nuclear missiles on Belarusian soil was formalized on May 25.

The TASS news agency quoted Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu as stating that the deployment was required “in the context of an extremely sharp escalation of threats on the western borders of Russia and Belarus.”

According to Shoigu, Moscow will continue to make all choices on the use of its nuclear weapons.

Shoigu allegedly stated in April that Belarus had received attack planes and Iskander-M systems capable of launching tactical nuclear strikes from Russia.

Belarus shares borders with EU nations such as Lithuania, Latvia and Poland.

All of them are also members of NATO, a military alliance between nations formed after World War II to thwart Soviet expansions into Europe.

Vladimir Putin, the president of Russia, has previously threatened nuclear war and is wanted by the International Criminal Court for alleged war crimes.

The Russian Federation is believed to keep 2,000 tactical nuclear weapons.