A Kremlin spokesman said on Sunday that the West has no problem placing nuclear weapons within close range of Russia, but he has become “hysterical” over Russia’s decision to build nuclear weapons storage facilities in Belarus.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said last month that Russia would deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus at the request of Belarusian officials. Putin said construction of the storage facilities would be completed on July 1, but no timetable was set for the arms transfer. Belarus borders Russia and Ukraine, and Western officials have expressed concern that Moscow might use nuclear weapons in its war with Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in an interview with Rossiya 24 TV that “the collective West is not inclined to remember the issue of US nuclear weapons that are in Europe about our country.” But in this case they tend to have this hysterical reaction to our plans.”
Nuclear concerns:The White House: There is no reason to change the strategic position after Putin said he would transfer nuclear weapons
developing:
– A Russian missile hit a residential area in Zaporizhia, killing an 11-year-old girl, presidential spokesman Andrei Yermak. chirpAdding: “Bloodthirsty savages.”
The French Ministry of Defense has denied the presence of its soldiers in Ukraine, rejecting information from classified papers leaked on the Internet. The Pentagon launched an investigation after the New York Times first published details of the classified documents.
The Estonian Foreign Minister, Urmas Rensloo, gave his support for Ukraine’s NATO membership, saying Kyiv Independent The military alliance “is the only solid security guarantee for Ukraine, as well as for Europe to avoid a new war of aggression against Ukraine by the Russian Federation.”
Ukraine opposes the message of Pope Francis on the occasion of Easter
Pope Francis prayed for peace for the “beloved Ukrainian people” on Sunday but drew criticism in Ukraine for his traditional Easter message. At issue was an event on Saturday, when the Vatican presented testimonies from both a Ukrainian and a Russian teenager. A similar issue stirred up the Ukrainian opposition last year.
“Unfortunately, we are forced to say that this year’s procession was once again overshadowed by the attempt to equate the victim with the aggressor,” said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko, calling the gesture “offensive”.
The pope, who was speaking on Sunday from St. Peter’s Basilica overlooking St. Peter’s Square, prayed for comfort for the wounded and those who lost loved ones in the war. Francis has always referred to Ukraine and its people as “martyred” ever since Russia invaded Ukraine.
“Help the beloved Ukrainian people in their journey towards peace and shine the light of Easter on the people of Russia,” the pope said on Sunday.
31 children returned to Ukraine from Russia
The head of a Ukrainian rescue organization said Saturday that the organization has brought back 31 children from Russia, where they were taken during the war. Thousands of children have been kidnapped from their families or orphanages and forcibly removed, says Mykola Kuleba, head of Save Ukraine and Presidential Commissioner for Children’s Rights.
On March 17, the International Criminal Court issued arrest warrants for President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s Children’s Rights Commissioner Maria Lvova Belova, accusing them of kidnapping children from Ukraine. Lvova-Belova told a UN panel that the children were taken for their safety. An Associated Press investigation has found an open effort to put Ukrainian children up for adoption in Russia.
Contributing: The Associated Press
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