Russia, Belarus ink document on tactical nuclear weapon deployment in Belarus

Russia and Belarus on Thursday signed a document on the deployment of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Reuters reported, citing Russian state-owned news agency TASS.

Separately, Russian media reported that Russian defense minister Sergei Shoigu said that the West was waging an "undeclared war" against Russia and Belarus.

Moscow will retain control over the weapons and any decisions on their use, it quoted Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu as saying, as per Reuters reports. 

Russia and Belarus, which are close allies over the conflict in Ukraine, agreed earlier this year to deploy part of Moscow's tactical nuclear arsenal in Belarus. 

Belarus holds a key position for Russia as it is a landlocked country, bordered by Russia to the east and northeast, Ukraine to the south, Poland to the west, and Lithuania and Latvia to the northwest.

While Belarus's neighbouring countries are part of NATO and EU group, and it has remained tightly under Russia's influence.

Belarus was part of the Soviet Union and became independent in 1991 after the collapse of the USSR. Since then, the country with a population of around 9.2 million has maintained close economic and political ties with Russia.

The Belarusian regime, headed by President Lukashenko, has backed the invasion of Ukraine. Belarus helped Russia launch its initial invasion of Ukraine last February, allowing the Kremlin's troops to enter the country through the 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) Ukrainian-Belarusian border to the north of Kyiv.