KYIV – NATO slammed Vladimir Putin for “dangerous” nuclear rhetoric after the Russian president introduced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, whereas Russian forces intensified shelling of the frontline Ukrainian metropolis of Avdiivka.
Mr. Putin likened his Belarus plan on Saturday to the US stationing its weapons in Europe, insisting Russia wouldn’t violate its nuclear non-proliferation guarantees.
The transfer, whereas not surprising, is one among Russia’s most pronounced nuclear indicators but and a warning to NATO over its navy help for Ukraine, which has referred to as for a gathering of the UN Security Council in response.
“Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous and irresponsible,” NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu mentioned on Sunday.
“NATO is vigilant and we are closely monitoring the situation. We have not seen any changes in Russia’s nuclear posture that would lead us to adjust our own.”
Mr. Putin‘s non-proliferation pledge and his description of US weapons deployment abroad have been means off the mark, she added.
“Russia’s reference to NATO‘s nuclear sharing is totally misleading. NATO allies act with full respect of their international commitments,” she mentioned in a press release. “Russia has consistently broken its arms control commitments.”
Ukraine’s safety chief, Oleksiy Danilov, mentioned Russia’s plan would destabilize Belarus, which he mentioned had been taken “hostage” by Moscow.
Others too joined the refrain of condemnation on Sunday, with Lithuania saying it will name for brand spanking new sanctions in opposition to Moscow and Minsk, whereas EU coverage chief Josep Borrell urged Belarus to not host the weapons and threatened additional sanctions.
Belarus and Russia have shut navy ties, and Minsk allowed Moscow to make use of Belarusian territory as a staging level for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine final yr.
Experts mentioned Russia’s transfer was important because it had till now been proud that not like the United States, it didn’t deploy nuclear weapons exterior its borders. It often is the first time for the reason that mid-Nineteen Nineties that it has carried out so.
The US, additionally a nuclear superpower, performed down considerations about Russia’s deliberate nuclear deployment.
Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the US House of Representatives international affairs committee, mentioned he regarded Russia’s plan as designed to intimidate the West.
“I think this is saber-rattling on the part of Putin basically to try to frighten,” Mr. McCaul informed the Fox News Sunday program. “These tactical nukes are disturbing.”
Tactical nuclear weapons discuss with these used for particular good points on a battlefield slightly than these with the capability to wipe out cities. It is unclear what number of such weapons Russia has, given it’s an space nonetheless shrouded in Cold War secrecy.
Mr. Putin on Sunday asserted that Western powers are constructing a brand new “axis” just like the partnership between Germany and Japan throughout World War Two.
This was a reprisal of a theme he has utilized in his portrayal of the warfare – that Moscow is preventing a Ukraine within the grip of supposed Nazis, abetted by Western powers menacing Russia.
Ukraine rejects these parallels as spurious pretexts for a warfare of imperial conquest.
Mr. Putin additionally denied Russia was making a navy alliance with China. The United States has mentioned that it fears China might arm Russia, one thing China denies.
‘POST-APOCALYPTIC’ AVDIIVKA
On the battlefield, Russian shelling compelled a virtually full shutdown of the japanese Ukrainian metropolis of Avdiivka, which lies some 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of the besieged Bakhmut, the highest native official mentioned on Sunday.
“I am sad to say this, but Avdiivka is becoming more and more like a place from post-apocalyptic movies,” town’s navy administration head Vitaliy Barabash mentioned.
On Sunday, Russian shelling focused two high-rise buildings in Avdiivka, which is simply 10 km from the northern outskirts of Donetsk metropolis, which has been below Moscow’s management since 2014.
The Ukrainian navy warned final week that Avdiivka might turn into a “second Bakhmut” – the place fierce preventing described by either side as a “meat grinder” has turned the city into rubble.
Ukraine’s General Staff mentioned on Sunday its forces had repelled 85 Russian assaults throughout the previous 24 hours throughout the japanese entrance, together with the Bakhmut space.
Russia’s protection ministry mentioned on Sunday that it forces had struck navy targets in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas, inflicting important Ukrainian casualties.
The ministry additionally mentioned it had downed a Ukrainian drone south of Moscow on Sunday, including three individuals have been injured and house blocks have been broken within the drone assault.
Russia has mentioned up to now that Ukrainian drones have flown into its territory and prompted harm to civilian infrastructure, an assertion Kyiv denies.
Reuters couldn’t confirm the battlefield stories. – Reuters
