Putin: Russia will do everything to ensure Belarus’ security

Answering a question about the updated Russian nuclear doctrine during today’s direct line, President Vladimir Putin mentioned the changes to the strategic document related to ensuring the security of Russia's partner in the Union State: the Republic of Belarus

Answering a correspondent's question about whether the West has got understanding of Russia's actions in ensuring its security, Vladimir Putin noted, “I do not know how they [the West] have understood that. It would be better to ask them. I know what the content of Russia's updated nuclear doctrine is.”

The Russian leader added that ensuring the security of the Republic of Belarus is one of the four important components of the changes made to the document.

“We have announced that if threats are created for our ally, Belarus – which is a member of the Union State – then the Russian Federation will view them in the same way as creating similar threats for Russia. We will do everything to ensure the security of Belarus. We are doing this in co-ordination with the Belarusian leadership, in co-ordination with President of Belarus Aleksandr Grigorievich Lukashenko. I think it is a very important component of the updated nuclear strategy of the Russian Federation," Vladimir Putin stated.