It is Moscow’s first move of such bombs from Russia since the fall of the Soviet Union.

Speaking at Russia’s main economic forum in St. Petersburg, the Russian leader Vladimir Putin he told the meeting that the first nuclear warheads had arrived in Belarus, but that this was only “the first part” of the planned delivery.

Putin confirmed that he has transferred nuclear weapons to Belarus, claiming it is a precautionary measure for “anyone thinking of inflicting a strategic defeat on Russia”.

“We have no reason to change our nuclear stance. We do not see any indication that Russia is preparing to use a nuclear weapon,” said chief diplomacy Antony Blinken on Friday.

The United States has “no reason” to change its nuclear stance, despite the deployment of Russian nuclear warheads in Belarus.

Blinken called it “ironic” as Putin justified the invasion of Ukraine by saying it was to prevent Kiev from getting such weapons.

He also criticized the Belarusian president, Alexander Lukashenkofor accepting weapons from Moscow.

“This is just another example of how Lukashenko is making irresponsible and provocative decisions to relinquish control of the sovereignty of Belarus against the will of the people,” he said.