Belarus will host Russian nuclear weapons in a significant change to the post-Soviet order

Belarus will host Russian nuclear weapons in a significant change to the post-Soviet order. 

According to a report that came out Sunday night, it’s said that Belarus will let Russia put nuclear weapons in its country. This is early Monday morning in Eastern Europe.

As a friend of Russia, Belarus borders Ukraine to the north and Ukraine’s NATO allies to the south. As a result, Belarus has given up its non-nuclear and neutral status.

“Belarus will give up its non-nuclear and neutral status, which will allow Russia to put nuclear weapons on its land,” the Kyiv Independent said. “65.16 percent of people in [Belarus] are said to have agreed with these constitutional amendments.”

In Belarus on Sunday, there was a new referendum approved. This means Russia can use its neighbor as a launchpad for nuclear missiles. 

MORE: More Russian infantry and tanks moving toward Kyiv.

This comes after Russian and Belarusian forces did joint training exercises before Russia invaded Ukraine, which is essential.

The referendum in Belarus has approved a new constitution, which overturns a policy from the Soviet Union that said there should be no nuclear weapons in the country anymore. 

Now, this means that Belarus has teamed up with Russia in what looks like a big show of strength to threaten Ukraine and the other former states of the USSR.

Western countries have said that they won’t accept or recognize the results of the referendum in Belarus, according to Reuters.

There is nothing new about how close Belarus and Russia are. He has been the president of Belarus for the last 28 years, and it’s no secret that he likes to hang out with Vladimir Putin.

This is how Reuters said it: Lukashenko said on Sunday that he could go so far as to ask Putin for Russia’s nuclear weapons back.

If the West sends nuclear weapons to Poland or Lithuania, near Lukashenko’s country, “then I will ask Putin to return the nuclear weapons I gave away without any conditions,” he said.

When Lukashenko set up the All-Belarusian People’s Assembly, he filled it with party members, local councils officials, and pro-government groups activists. 

The new Belarusian constitution would give both of them the power to make decisions.