Russian President Vladimir Putin delivered a speech during a session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF) on June 16, 2023. He confirmed for the first time that he had deployed tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus as a reminder to the West that they could not defeat Russia strategically.
Speaking at the economic forum, Putin stated that Russian tactical nuclear warheads had been delivered to Belarus, but he emphasized that he did not currently see the need to use nuclear weapons. He explained that negotiations with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko had led to the deployment of these warheads, with the intention of sending a warning to the West about their support for Ukraine.
This move marked Russia’s first deployment of such warheads outside of its territory since the Soviet Union dissolved. Putin used the term “deterrence” to describe the purpose of this action, aiming to prevent any potential strategic defeat that could diminish Russia’s power on the world stage for decades.
Lukashenko, a close ally of Putin, had previously announced that his country had started receiving Russian tactical nuclear weapons, some of which were three times more powerful than the atomic bombs dropped by the US on Japan in 1945.
The United States criticized Putin’s decision but stated that it had no plans to change its stance on strategic nuclear weapons. They did not see any signs that Russia was preparing to use a nuclear weapon. Nevertheless, this move by Russia was closely watched by Washington, its allies, and China, which has consistently warned against the use of nuclear weapons in the Ukrainian conflict.
Putin accused the West of trying to strategically defeat Russia in Ukraine, where they are engaged in the largest land war in Europe since World War Two. However, he reiterated that Russia did not currently need to resort to nuclear weapons, as they were primarily meant to ensure the security and existence of the Russian state.
Furthermore, Putin dismissed the idea of talks with the West to reduce Russia’s vast nuclear arsenal, stating that discussing the potential use of nuclear weapons only lowered the nuclear threshold. He expressed frustration about NATO countries wanting to reduce Russia’s numbers while they possessed more nuclear weapons themselves.
In his address, Putin also warned that Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russian forces had not achieved significant success. He claimed that Ukrainian forces were suffering heavy losses and had “no chance” against Russia’s military. Putin suggested that Ukraine would soon run out of its own military equipment, making them reliant on Western supplies, which would undermine their ability to fight effectively.
Independent military analysts have noted that Ukraine has outperformed Russia’s larger army in the war, forcing Russia into significant retreats. However, Ukraine’s military chiefs reported that they were facing “desperate resistance” from Russian forces in certain areas. Despite these conflicting reports, Putin remained defiant, claiming that Western-supplied hardware would be destroyed, including German-made tanks and potentially even US-made fighter jets.
Putin warned that if Ukraine were to receive F-16 fighter jets from its allies and use them in combat operations against Russia, it would pose a serious danger and risk dragging NATO further into the conflict.
Overall, Putin’s speech at the economic forum demonstrated his commitment to defending Russian interests and his determination to prevent a strategic defeat in Ukraine.
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