Poland sees threat in Russia nukes, warlord Prigozhin in Belarus - MEP

Poland is watching closely the developments in Belarus regarding the reports of the deployment of Russian nuclear capabilities to the country, as well as the exile of Russia’s Wagner Group leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. 

That’s according to MEP Witold Jan Waszczykowski, who gave a comment to Ukrinform.

Speaking of the nuclear threat, the lawmaker reiterated the fact that “Russia has violated many disarmament and arms control treaties and of course nuclear weapons in Belarus is yet another violation of international obligations.”

Also, Poland is concerned about the “recent activities” of Yevgeny Prigozhin, who has left Russia for Belarus following a foiled mutiny attempt.

“We wonder what he’s going to do in Belarus. Is he going to encourage or force Belarusians to create another front against Ukraine. Is he going to escalate the hybrid operation on the Polish-Belarusian border?” suggested the MEP.

He went on to consider another scenario, where Prigozhin could use his private army to capture Belarus and turn the country into yet another Russia-controlled “republic.”

As Ukrinform reported earlier, the leader of Wagner Group, Yevgeny Prigozhin, announced a demarche against the Russian military leadership, in particular against Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, on June 23. He took control of Rostov-on-Don and part of the Voronezh region, after which the Wagnerites marched on Moscow.

EU High Representative Josep Borrell said on June 26 that the European Union is closely monitoring developments in Russia, which remain unpredictable, as the armed intervention of the Wagner group showed the weakening of the state and Putin's personal authority, and put the entire political system of the Russian Federation on the brink of collapse.