Medvedev Raises Specter of Poland Using Nuclear Weapons

Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki announced that Warsaw would like to join NATO’s Nuclear Sharing program amid Russia’s intentions to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus

Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev Ekaterina Shtukina/POOL/TASS

© Ekaterina Shtukina/POOL/TASS

MOSCOW, July 1. /TASS/. The potential deployment of nuclear weapons to Poland may prompt the country to use them, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev told TASS.

Commenting on Poland’s ambitions to take part in NATO’s Nuclear Sharing program, he said, "The only danger arising from the request to deploy nuclear weapons to Poland is that such weapons will be used."

Earlier, Polish Prime Minister Morawiecki announced that Warsaw would like to join NATO’s Nuclear Sharing program amid Russia’s intentions to deploy tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus.

Speaking during an online press briefing on Friday, US National Security Council Strategic Communications Coordinator John Kirby said that he has absolutely nothing to say about this kind of negotiations. However, he underscored that the United States saw no Russian intentions to use nukes amid the Ukraine crisis.

On March 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that, at Minsk’s request, Moscow would deploy its tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, similar to what the United States has long been doing on the territory of its allies.

Moscow has already provided Minsk with Iskander tactical missile systems capable of carrying nuclear weapons and has helped Minsk to re-equip its military aircraft to carry specialized weapons. As well, Belarusian missile crews and pilots have undergone training in Russia.

On June 16, Putin said that the first Russian nuclear warheads had already been delivered to Belarus, while the rest would arrive before the end of this year.

On June 23, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said that his republic had already received a substantial portion of warheads that were planned to be delivered.

Poland hopes to convince NATO partners of its need to have nuclear weapons in country — PM

"We endeavor to strengthen security," Mateusz Morawiecki said

MOSCOW, July 2. /TASS/. Poland’s authorities intend to convince NATO partners over time of the need to deploy nuclear weapons in the country within the framework of the Nuclear Sharing program, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki said at a briefing.

"Constant dropping wears away a stone," the prime minister said, commenting on the question that the US has not yet confirmed talks on nuclear weapons deployment with Poland.

In the situation when Russia announces plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Poland "also wants to have the highest security level," Morawiecki said. "We endeavor to strengthen security. Nuclear Sharing, the program of the joint use of nuclear weapons, would seriously fortify our security," he noted.

"We will talk with our allies," the prime minister added.