NATO slams Putin rhetoric on tactical nukes in Belarus; Russia pounds Avdiivka

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KYIV, March 27 (Reuters) –

NATO slammed Vladimir Putin for “harmful” nuclear rhetoric after the Russian president introduced plans to

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station tactical nuclear weapons

in Belarus, whereas Russian forces intensified shelling of the frontline Ukrainian metropolis of Avdiivka.

Putin likened his Belarus plan on Saturday to the U.S. stationing its weapons in Europe, insisting Russia wouldn’t violate its nuclear non-proliferation guarantees.

The transfer, whereas

not surprising

, is one among Russia’s most pronounced nuclear alerts but and a warning to NATO over its navy assist for Ukraine, which has

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known as for a gathering

of the U.N. Safety Council in response.

“Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is harmful and irresponsible,” NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu mentioned on Sunday.

“NATO is vigilant and we’re carefully monitoring the state of affairs. Now we have not seen any adjustments in Russia’s nuclear posture that may lead us to regulate our personal.”

Putin’s non-proliferation pledge and his description of U.S. weapons deployment abroad had been method off the mark, she added.

“Russia’s reference to NATO’s nuclear sharing is completely deceptive. NATO allies act with full respect of their worldwide commitments,” she mentioned in a press release. “Russia has constantly damaged its arms management commitments.”

Ukraine’s safety chief, Oleksiy Danilov, mentioned Russia’s plan would destabilize Belarus, which he mentioned had been taken “hostage” by Moscow.

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Others too joined the refrain of condemnation on Sunday, with Lithuania saying it will name for brand spanking new sanctions in opposition to Moscow and Minsk, whereas EU coverage chief Josep Borrell urged Belarus to not host the weapons and threatened additional sanctions.

Belarus and Russia have shut navy ties, and Minsk allowed Moscow to make use of Belarusian territory as a staging level for its full-scale invasion of Ukraine final yr.

Consultants mentioned Russia’s transfer was vital because it had till now been proud that not like america, it didn’t deploy nuclear weapons outdoors its borders. It could be the primary time for the reason that mid-Nineties that it has carried out so.

The U.S., additionally a nuclear superpower, performed down considerations about Russia’s deliberate nuclear deployment.

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Rep. Michael McCaul, the Republican chairman of the U.S. Home of Representatives international affairs committee, mentioned he regarded Russia’s plan as designed to intimidate the West.

“I believe that is saber-rattling on the a part of Putin principally to attempt to frighten,” McCaul advised the Fox Information Sunday program. “These tactical nukes are disturbing.”

Tactical nuclear weapons check with these used for particular beneficial properties on a battlefield quite than these with the capability to wipe out cities. It’s unclear what number of such weapons Russia has, given it’s an space nonetheless shrouded in Chilly Conflict secrecy.

Putin on Sunday asserted that Western powers are constructing a brand new “axis” just like the partnership between Germany and Japan throughout World Conflict Two.

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This was a reprisal of a theme he has utilized in his portrayal of the warfare – that Moscow is preventing a Ukraine within the grip of supposed Nazis, abetted by Western powers menacing Russia.

Ukraine rejects these parallels as spurious pretexts for a warfare of imperial conquest.

Putin additionally denied Russia was making a

navy alliance

with China. The USA has mentioned that it fears China may arm Russia, one thing China denies.

‘POST-APOCALYPTIC’ AVDIIVKA

On the battlefield, Russian shelling pressured an almost full shutdown of the jap Ukrainian metropolis of Avdiivka, which lies some 90 kilometers (56 miles) southwest of the

besieged Bakhmut

, the highest native official mentioned on Sunday.

“I’m unhappy to say this, however Avdiivka is changing into an increasing number of like a spot from post-apocalyptic films,” town’s navy administration head Vitaliy Barabash mentioned.

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On Sunday, Russian shelling focused two high-rise buildings in Avdiivka, which is simply 10 km from the northern outskirts of Donetsk metropolis, which has been underneath Moscow’s management since 2014.

The Ukrainian navy warned final week that Avdiivka may develop into a “second Bakhmut” – the place fierce preventing described by each side as a “meat grinder” has turned the city into rubble.

Ukraine’s Normal Workers mentioned on Sunday its forces had repelled 85 Russian assaults through the previous 24 hours throughout the jap entrance, together with the Bakhmut space.

Russia’s protection ministry mentioned on Sunday that it forces had struck navy targets in Kharkiv, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson areas, inflicting vital Ukrainian casualties.

The ministry additionally mentioned it had downed a Ukrainian drone south of Moscow on Sunday, including three individuals had been injured and residence blocks had been broken within the

drone assault

.

Russia has mentioned prior to now that Ukrainian drones have flown into its territory and precipitated harm to civilian infrastructure, an assertion Kyiv denies.

Reuters couldn’t confirm the battlefield experiences.

(Reporting by Dan Peleschuk and Reuters bureaus; Writing by Doina Chiacu and Himani Sarkar. Enhancing by Gerry Doyle)