Russia may use nuclear weapons in case of aggression against Belarus — treaty - TASS

Russian nuclear weapons may be used in case of aggression against Russia or Belarus if the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries are threatened, according to the treaty with Belarus on security guarantees within the Union State, which Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted to the State Duma (the lower chamber of Russia’s parliament) for ratification.

According to the treaty, Russian nuclear weapons may be used in response to the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction against Russia or Belarus, "as well as in the case of aggression against one of the parties with the use of conventional weapons, creating a critical threat to its sovereignty or territorial integrity."

The parties to the treaty consider Russian nuclear weapons as "an important factor in preventing the outbreak of nuclear military conflicts and military conflicts with the use of conventional means of destruction, as well as a deterrent, the use of which is an extreme and compulsory measure."

In addition, the parties consider an armed attack on a member of the Union State as an act of aggression against the Union State as a whole and will take appropriate retaliatory measures using all forces and means at their disposal. In particular, in the event of aggression against one of the countries, the second country of the Union State shall, upon official request and after consultations between the presidents, immediately provide the necessary military, military-technical and other assistance.