VLADIMIR Putin's ally Alexander Lukashenko has issued a chilling warning to the West saying the Russian tyrant will spark a nuclear World War 3 if he faces defeat in Ukraine.
The dictator said that Russia, which is already sending tactical nuclear weapons to Belarus could also send intercontinental nuclear missiles there as well, if necessary.
Addressing lawmakers and government officials, Lukashenko said Moscow's plans to station nuclear arms on its territory, would help protect Belarus, which he said was under threat from the West.
He said: "I am not trying to intimidate or blackmail anyone. I want to safeguard the Belarusian state and ensure peace for the Belarusian people."
In a ranting speech, Lukashenko called for an immediate, unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, cautioning that Russia would be forced to use "the most terrible weapon" if it felt threatened.
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He said: "It is impossible to defeat a nuclear power. If the Russian leadership understands that the situation threatens to cause Russia's disintegration, it will use the most terrible weapon. This cannot be allowed."
Even though Putin said on Saturday that the tactical missiles would remain under Moscow's control, Lukashenko suggested he could use them with Russia's agreement if Belarus was threatened with destruction.
He said Belarus had enough conventional weapons to counter threats, "but if we see that behind (the threats) lies the destruction of our country, we will use everything we have".
"If necessary, Putin and I will decide and bring in strategic weapons - if needed," he said.
Lukashenko also claimed the West is planning to invade Belarus through Poland and "destroy" it.
He offered no evidence of such a threat from the West, or of a further allegation that there were plans to invade Belarus from neighbouring Poland, a member of the U.S.-led Western NATO alliance.
"Take my word for it, I have never deceived you. They are preparing to invade Belarus, to destroy our country," he added.
Russia's decision to station tactical nuclear missiles in Belarus amid rising tensions with the West over its invasion of Ukraine is its first deployment of nuclear weapons outside its borders since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991.
Putin said on Saturday that Russia will have completed the construction of a storage facility by July 1, Putin said, adding that Moscow would not actually be transferring control of the arms to Minsk.
Belarus said this week that the weapons would offer protection against what it called a campaign of pressure from the United States and its allies aimed at overthrowing Lukashenko, who has been in power for nearly three decades.
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It comes after last week Russia issued a warning to Britain over plans to potentially arm Ukraine with tank shells containing depleted uranium.
The Kremlin acknowledged Lukashenko's ceasefire proposal and said Putin and Lukashenko would have an opportunity to discuss it next week, but that the situation in Ukraine had not changed.
Ukraine has previously rejected Minsk's offer to broker peace. Russia used Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion in February last year, and Kyiv says Russia continues to use Belarusian airspace for drone and missile strikes against Ukraine.
