Russia tells US: Don't lecture Moscow on nuclear deployment

Moscow's embassy described Moscow's planned deployment as critical of the US and said Washington could do some investigating before blaming others.

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On May 27, Russia dismissed US President Joe Biden's criticism of Moscow's plan to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, saying Washington had deployed such nuclear weapons in Europe for decades.

Russia on May 25 went ahead with the first deployment of such weapons outside its borders since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said the weapons were moving forward.

Mr. Biden said he had an "extremely negative" reaction to reports that Russia had moved to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus on May 26. The US State Department has condemned Russia's nuclear deployment plans.

Russia's embassy in the United States said in a statement that Russia and Belarus are sovereign and that we must ensure their security amid a massive hybrid war unleashed against them by Washington.

"The steps we are taking are fully consistent with our international legal obligations," he said.

Explanation | Why is Russia planning to install tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus?

The United States has said the world faces the biggest nuclear threat since the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis, thanks to President Vladimir Putin's comments during the Ukraine conflict.

In Ukraine's war for Russia's survival against an aggressive West, Mr Putin has repeatedly warned that nuclear-armed Russia, more than any other country, will use all means to defend itself.

Tactical nuclear weapons are used for tactical advantage on the battlefield and are typically smaller in yield than strategic nuclear weapons designed to destroy US, European, or Russian cities.

The Russian embassy has called Washington's planned deployment hypocritical, saying Washington could do some investigating before blaming others.

The United States has for decades maintained a large arsenal of nuclear weapons in Europe. Along with its NATO allies, it has participated in nuclear sharing arrangements and trains for the use of nuclear weapons against our country. "