U.S. sees no signs Russian nukes deployed in Belarus

The United States is seeing no confirmation that Russia is deploying any of its nuclear capabilities in neighboring Belarus.

That’s according to the National Security Council strategic communications coordinator John Kirby, Ukrinform reports citing CNN.

Asked by CBS about Russian President Vladimir Putin's pledge to put tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, Kirby said: "We're just going to have to watch and see where this one goes."

"We have not seen any indication that he's made good on this pledge, or moved any nuclear weapons around," Kirby said.

As Ukrinform reported, on March 25, Vladimir Putin remarked in an interview on Russian TV that the country intended to deploy tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus. The decision, he said, was approved after the United Kingdom pledged to deliver to Ukraine a batch of artillery munitions containing depleted uranium. These rounds are not considered nuclear weapons. The White House said the intentions of Vladimir Putin, whom the International Criminal Court suspects of war crimes, would not influence the U.S. nuclear posture.

At the same time, the U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War think tank said Russia had likely had the intention to deploy nukes in Belarus even before launching a full-scale invasion.