Lukashenko Announces the Re-Equipment of Belarusian Aircraft to Carry Nuclear Weapons

Lukashenko added that Belarus is ready to adequately respond to threats of the West President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said that re-equipment of Belarusian aircraft to carry nuclear weapons is completed, Russian media report. “They must understand that no helicopters, no planes will save them if they aggravate. Once (Russian President Vladimir) Putin and I said in St. Petersburg we would re-equip Belarusian Su-24’s so that they could carry nuclear weapons. You think we’re just babbling? It's done!” RIA Novosti quoted Lukashenko as saying. According to the news agency, Lukashenko added that Belarus was ready to adequately respond to threats from the West. The President’s words were also quoted by the state agency Belta. Earlier, Lukashenko said he had asked Russia to help modernize aircraft so they could carry nuclear warheads, the media reported. Putin and Lukashenko held talks in St. Petersburg on June 25. The Russian leader said that Moscow would hand over Iskander-M systems to Minsk and offered to re-equip the Su-25s in service with the Belarusian army. At the same time, Lukashenko specified that the Belarusian side was not demanding the transfer of nuclear ammunition, but was interested in modernizing the planes for nuclear charges. Голос Америки