Russia, Belarus sign mutual security guarantees agreement

ISTANBUL

Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Friday signed an agreement on mutual security guarantees between Moscow and Minsk.

Following a meeting of the Supreme State Council of the Union State, Russia and Belarus signed the agreement in Minsk, along with 10 other documents, including a deal to form the Union State's united electricity market.

“In conditions of unprecedented external pressure, Russia and Belarus closely interact in international affairs, invariably providing each other with genuine allied mutual support,” Putin said in his address to the council.

Putin said both countries are increasing cooperation in defense and security, accusing Western countries of deliberately escalating tensions in Ukraine.

"It was they (the West) who caused today's tragedy (in Ukraine) and continue to exacerbate it. Such irresponsible policies are pushing the world to the brink of global conflict," he argued.

Consequently, Putin added that they are signing a mutual security guarantee agreement.

“It defines mutual allied obligations to ensure defense, protect the sovereignty, independence, and constitutional order of Russia and Belarus, as well as the integrity and inviolability of the territory and external border of the Union State, with the use of all available forces and means.

“This includes Russian tactical nuclear weapons, located on the territory of the Republic of Belarus at the suggestion of the President of Belarus,” he said.

At a joint press conference following the Supreme State Council, the Russian president also discussed the possibility of deploying weapons such as the Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile in Belarus, saying that he believes this will become possible in the second half of 2025.

During the press conference, Lukashenko requested that Putin deploy new weapons systems, including the Oreshnik, on his country's territory.

"We have specific locations where we can deploy these weapons. With one condition: the targets for these weapons must be determined by Belarus' military-political leadership," Lukashenko added.

Lukashenko went on to say that Russian specialists should initially train Belarusians on how to use the Oreshnik missiles if they decide to deploy them.