The US Department of Defense says there is no indication that Russia is planning to use nuclear weapons, following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s announcement that Moscow will regularly deploy nuclear weapons on Belarusian soil.

“We have seen reports of the Russian government’s announcement and will continue to monitor developments,” the U.S. Department of Defense press office said in a written statement.

“We see no reason to adjust our nuclear posture and no indication that Russia is planning to use nuclear weapons. We remain committed to the collective defense of the NATO alliance,” he stresses.

According to the Russian TASS news agency, Putin said yesterday that Moscow had reached an agreement with Belarus to place tactical nuclear weapons on its territory. He noted that such a move would not violate the agreement on the non-proliferation of nuclear weapons, adding that the United States also placed nuclear weapons on the territory of its European allies.

Source: APE-ME, REUTERS