Kremlin: Nuclear deployment to Belarus is response to NATO expansion

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko make an announcement throughout their assembly on the Palace of Independence in Minsk on December 19, 2022. Pavel Bednyakov/ Sputnik/ AFP

MOSCOW — The Kremlin on Wednesday defended its choice to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, rejecting criticism of the transfer by NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov informed reporters that NATO was the one increasing in the direction of Russia, not the opposite method spherical, and due to this fact Moscow needed to take steps to defend its personal safety.

Russia launched its ongoing invasion of Ukraine on February 24, 2022. — Reuters