Latest news with #ViktorKhrenin
Newsweek
5 days ago
- Politics
- Newsweek
Russia Announces Nuclear Deployment Planning With Top Ally
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin announced Wednesday that nuclear weapons exercises practicing deployment will soon be held near Borisov in the Minsk Region, occurring as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are scheduled to meet in the United States. Why It Matters The latest nuclear exercises follow Russia's formal revision to its own nuclear doctrine in late 2024, to lower the threshold for potential use of nuclear weapons—a change that Western officials and analysts said was meant to deter expanded military support for Ukraine. Belarus has been one of Russia's staunchest allies throughout the yearslong war between Russia and Ukraine that escalated when Putin invaded sovereign territory across the border in Eastern Europe. Putin and Trump are slated to meet one-on-one this Friday at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska—the largest military facility the state—as the world leaders intend to discuss options for ending the conflict in Ukraine that began in February 2022. European venues such as Vienna and Geneva were ruled out as a meeting spot due to the legal risks of hosting Putin, who faces an International Criminal Court arrest warrant for war crimes. In July, Trump and former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev engaged in a back-and-forth about a peace deal and nuclear provocations, with Trump telling Putin's confidant that he should "watch his words" and that he is straying into "dangerous territory." Belarus' Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin attends the Defense Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province on June 26, 2025. Belarus' Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin attends the Defense Ministers' Meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Member States in Qingdao in eastern China's Shandong province on June 26, 2025. PEDRO PARDO/AFP via Getty Images What To Know Khrenin said Wednesday that main troop maneuvers for the Belarus-Russia Zapad-2025 exercises would include use of the Oreshnik system, according to Belarusian and Russian state media. The primary active events and troop operations for Zapad-2025 would be concentrated on training grounds near Borisov in the Minsk Region, with the larger exercise set for September 12-16, according to Belarusian officials. "As it was previously stated by the head of state, all major operational activities and troop maneuvers will be concentrated in the central part of our country, at our main training grounds near Borisov," Khrenin told Today, adding that four of the five fortified areas, established on presidential directives for national defense operations, are fully prepared. "Currently, four of these five fortified zones are operational; they have been handed over for use and are actively engaged in combat training exercises," he added. "During Zapad-2025, we also plan to conduct troop training in two of these areas, where small units will execute practical tasks aimed at repelling potential adversaries." This is part of a planned event with exercises held every two years, he added, rather than "some sudden decision." Belarus reported that all components of its armed forces would participate, with core contingents from the Western and North-Western Commands and special operations forces taking part in the maneuvers near Borisov. Minsk announced that participants would practice countering airstrikes, combating enemy sabotage groups, and planning nuclear-weapons deployment—including with the Oreshnik system, an intermediate-range weapon Russia previously used in strikes targeting Ukraine. 'Fundamentally Irreconcilable' Worldviews Russia showed "utter disrespect" of Trump and the U.S. when it launched the largest combined drone and missile attack on Ukraine hours after Trump and Putin ended their phone call on July 3, Mikhail Alexseev, political science professor at San Diego State University, told Newsweek via email. "This comes after months of Moscow delaying and obstructing Trump's bold and noble efforts to bring the war to end through negotiations," Alexseev said. "This disrespect is not surprising. Putin's anti-Americanism is deep-seated, though often skillfully disguised when he wants to manipulate other leaders. "It goes back to his days feeling humiliated and infuriated by the Soviet Union's collapse while he served as a KGB officer in the communist East Germany." Alexseev said one of Russia's underlying objectives as part of its invasion of Ukraine goes beyond conquering people and territory "but to signal to the rest of the world that America will never again be first, that it cannot protect its friends and allies, even those who share its fundamental values, such as freedom of speech and religion." "In that sense, Putin's goals and Trump's worldview are fundamentally irreconcilable," he said. What People Are Saying U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent told BloombergTelevision in an interview on Wednesday morning: "I think everyone has been frustrated with President Putin. We expected that he would come to the table in a more fulsome way. It looks like he may be ready to negotiate, and we put secondary tariffs on the Indians for buying Russian oil. And I could see, if things don't go well, then sanctions or secondary tariffs could go up." Bessent added: "I'm not going to get ahead of the president, but the president is the best at creating leverage for himself, and he will make it clear to President Putin that all options are on the table." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, during a meeting with European leaders, he believes Putin "is bluffing" ahead of his talks with Trump—accusing Putin of "trying to apply pressure on all sectors of the Ukrainian front" to project that Russia is "capable of occupying all of Ukraine." What Happens Next Belarus reported that three Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) exercises—Search, Echelon, and Interaction—would take place from August 31 to September 6 at the Vitebsk training ground. Russian units had already arrived with other CSTO contingents expected to join. NATO and neighboring countries said they would continue to monitor troop movements and exercises. Western officials reiterated public statements that doctrinal changes by Moscow increased the need for vigilance.
Straits Times
5 days ago
- Politics
- Straits Times
Russian and Belarusian military exercises next month to involve Oreshnik hypersonic missile
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Joint exercises to be held by the Russian and Belarusian armies next month will include drills on the planned use of nuclear weapons and the Russian-made, intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik missile, Belarus' defence minister said on Wednesday. The comments by Viktor Khrenin come just two days before U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska to discuss a possible deal to end the full-scale war in Ukraine, which Moscow launched in part from Belarusian territory in February 2022. Khrenin told journalists in Minsk that the Belarusians would work with their Russian counterparts on how to use the Oreshnik, as well as nuclear weapons, during the military exercises, to be held in Belarus from September 12-16. "This is an important element of our strategic deterrence. As the head of state demands, we must be prepared for anything," Khrenin was quoted as saying by Belta, a Belarusian state news agency. "We see the situation on our western and northern borders and cannot calmly watch the militarisation and military activity. We demonstrate our openness and peacefulness, but we must always keep our powder dry." Belarus borders Poland, Lithuania and Latvia - all NATO members - to the west and north, while in the south it borders Ukraine. Putin said this month that the Oreshnik (Hazel Tree) had gone into serial production and had been delivered to the armed forces. Moscow first used the weapon against Ukraine last November, targeting the city of Dnipro. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore 2 dead after fire in Jalan Bukit Merah flat, about 60 evacuated Singapore ST Explains: How the SAF's drone push for recruits reflects new battlefield realities Singapore HSA seeks Kpod investigators to arrest abusers, conduct anti-trafficking ops Opinion The 30s are heavy: Understanding suicide among Singapore's young adults Singapore Lawyer who sent misleading letters to 22 doctors fails in bid to quash $18,000 penalty Singapore Jail, caning for recalcitrant drug offender who assaulted 2 cops with stun device Singapore 4 taken to hospital after accident near Sports Hub, including 2 rescued with hydraulic tools Singapore SG60: Many hands behind Singapore's success story The Kremlin said last week it would no longer place any limits on where it deploys intermediate-range missiles that can carry nuclear warheads, after lifting a moratorium on deployment of such weapons in what it cast as a forced response to moves by the West. The scheduled drills, called "Zapad-2025" (West-2025), have raised security concerns in neighbouring Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the idea that Minsk would utilise the exercises to attack its neighbours as "complete nonsense." Belarusian defence officials have pointed to upcoming joint NATO drills in Poland, involving at least 34,000 troops, as evidence of growing militarisation along Belarus' borders. "We need to watch them very closely (which is what we will be doing) and respond accordingly," Khrenin said on Wednesday, referring to the NATO drills. "If they show any aggression toward the Republic of Belarus, we have the means to respond." REUTERS
Time of India
5 days ago
- Politics
- Time of India
Belarus to practice nuclear-capable missile use in Russia drills
Belarus will practice deploying Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 drills near the EU and NATO's eastern border. These drills, scheduled for September 12-16, will involve Belarusian and Russian forces. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Belarus said Wednesday it will practice deployment of Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 ("West-2025") drills close to the EU and NATO's eastern flank a former Soviet republic, is a key Russian ally and depends on the large eastern neighbour economically and also allowed its territory to be used as a staging post for Moscow's 2022 offensive in as well as Poland and the Baltic states, have repeatedly sounded alarm over military build-ups in Belarus, where Russia said it would deploy Oreshnik by the end of the year."Of course, we will work out the plan for using this type of weaponry together with our Russian colleagues," Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said asked if the Zapad drills would include the use of late 2024, Russia used the Ukrainian city of Dnipro as a testing ground for its "experimental" Oreshnik missile without a nuclear warhead."We see the situation on our western and northern borders and can't just sit and watch the militarisation and military activity there," Khrenin was quoted as saying by Belta news state media earlier reported around 13,000 soldiers were originally set to take part in the drills, but the final number of participants was not revealed Zapad-2025 military drills, due on September 12-16, usually involve tens of thousands of troops in a show of force close to Belarus's western border with EU and NATO 200,000 troops participated in the 2021 edition of Zapad, staged just months before Moscow's assault of Ukraine.
Reuters
5 days ago
- Politics
- Reuters
Russian and Belarusian military exercises next month to involve Oreshnik hypersonic missile
Aug 13 (Reuters) - Joint exercises to be held by the Russian and Belarusian armies next month will include drills on the planned use of nuclear weapons and the Russian-made, intermediate-range hypersonic Oreshnik missile, Belarus' defence minister said on Wednesday. The comments by Viktor Khrenin come just two days before U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin are set to meet in Alaska to discuss a possible deal to end the full-scale war in Ukraine, which Moscow launched in part from Belarusian territory in February 2022. Khrenin told journalists in Minsk that the Belarusians would work with their Russian counterparts on how to use the Oreshnik, as well as nuclear weapons, during the military exercises, to be held in Belarus from September 12-16. "This is an important element of our strategic deterrence. As the head of state demands, we must be prepared for anything," Khrenin was quoted as saying by Belta, a Belarusian state news agency. "We see the situation on our western and northern borders and cannot calmly watch the militarisation and military activity. We demonstrate our openness and peacefulness, but we must always keep our powder dry." Belarus borders Poland, Lithuania and Latvia - all NATO members - to the west and north, while in the south it borders Ukraine. Putin said this month that the Oreshnik (Hazel Tree) had gone into serial production and had been delivered to the armed forces. Moscow first used the weapon against Ukraine last November, targeting the city of Dnipro. The Kremlin said last week it would no longer place any limits on where it deploys intermediate-range missiles that can carry nuclear warheads, after lifting a moratorium on deployment of such weapons in what it cast as a forced response to moves by the West. The scheduled drills, called "Zapad-2025" (West-2025), have raised security concerns in neighbouring Poland, Lithuania and Latvia. President Alexander Lukashenko has dismissed the idea that Minsk would utilise the exercises to attack its neighbours as "complete nonsense." Belarusian defence officials have pointed to upcoming joint NATO drills in Poland, involving at least 34,000 troops, as evidence of growing militarisation along Belarus' borders. "We need to watch them very closely (which is what we will be doing) and respond accordingly," Khrenin said on Wednesday, referring to the NATO drills. "If they show any aggression toward the Republic of Belarus, we have the means to respond."
Economic Times
6 days ago
- Politics
- Economic Times
Belarus to practice nuclear-capable missile use in Russia drills
Synopsis Belarus will practice deploying Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 drills near the EU and NATO's eastern border. These drills, scheduled for September 12-16, will involve Belarusian and Russian forces. AP Belarus said Wednesday it will practice deployment of Russia's nuclear-capable Oreshnik missiles during the joint Zapad-2025 ("West-2025") drills close to the EU and NATO's eastern flank a former Soviet republic, is a key Russian ally and depends on the large eastern neighbour economically and militarily. It also allowed its territory to be used as a staging post for Moscow's 2022 offensive in Ukraine. Kyiv, as well as Poland and the Baltic states, have repeatedly sounded alarm over military build-ups in Belarus, where Russia said it would deploy Oreshnik by the end of the year. "Of course, we will work out the plan for using this type of weaponry together with our Russian colleagues," Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said asked if the Zapad drills would include the use of Oreshnik. In late 2024, Russia used the Ukrainian city of Dnipro as a testing ground for its "experimental" Oreshnik missile without a nuclear warhead."We see the situation on our western and northern borders and can't just sit and watch the militarisation and military activity there," Khrenin was quoted as saying by Belta news state media earlier reported around 13,000 soldiers were originally set to take part in the drills, but the final number of participants was not revealed Zapad-2025 military drills, due on September 12-16, usually involve tens of thousands of troops in a show of force close to Belarus's western border with EU and NATO 200,000 troops participated in the 2021 edition of Zapad, staged just months before Moscow's assault of Ukraine.
