Nuclear Triad Should Serve as Guarantor of Sovereignty of Union State - Putin
13:21 GMT 21.05.2026 (Updated: 14:41 GMT 21.05.2026)
© Sputnik / Pavel Bednyakov
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MINSK (Sputnik) - Given rising tensions globally and new threats and risks, the nuclear triad must serve as a guarantor of the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday.
"With increasing global tensions and new threats, our nuclear triad must continue to reliably protect the sovereignty of the Union State of Russia and Belarus, address strategic deterrence, keep nuclear balance, and maintain power balance worldwide," Putin said, as quoted by the Belta news agency.
Russia's nuclear triad will remain at the required sufficiency level, Vladimir Putin said.
"Our nuclear triad will remain at the required sufficiency level," Putin said in his closing remarks at the nuclear force exercise.
Russia is working on the development of a nuclear triad as planned, and everything is working out, Putin added.
🚨Putin announces wide-ranging joint nuclear drills with Belarus, says nuclear triad guarantees Russia-Belarus Union State sovereignty
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 21, 2026
More:
🔶Nuclear triad ensures strategic deterrence and maintains nuclear parity
🔶The use of nuclear weapons remains a last resort
🔶Test… pic.twitter.com/hLEYj0uPMi
The tasks of the nuclear forces exercises have been fully completed, Vladimir Putin said.
"The tasks have been fully completed," Putin said in his closing remarks at the nuclear forces exercises.
Putin thanked the Russian and Belarusian military personnel for their efficient actions during the nuclear force exercises.
"We do not intend to get involved in an arms race. Our nuclear triad will remain at the level of necessary sufficiency. We are doing everything that was planned decades before," Putin said.
Russia will increase the level of training of its strategic and tactical nuclear forces, Putin said, adding that Iskanders were used during the drills competently and harmoniously.
🚨Putin announces wide-ranging joint nuclear drills with Belarus, says nuclear triad guarantees Russia-Belarus Union State sovereignty
— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) May 21, 2026
More:
🔶Nuclear triad ensures strategic deterrence and maintains nuclear parity
🔶The use of nuclear weapons remains a last resort
🔶Test… pic.twitter.com/hLEYj0uPMi
Russia and Belarus are planning to hold the Union Shield 2027 military exercise next year, Vladimir Putin said.
"Furthermore, next year we plan to hold operational exercises of the armed forces of Belarus and Russia, Union Shield 2027," the Russian leader said in his closing remarks at the nuclear forces exercises.
Russia plans to equip its strategic missile forces with new missile systems, Putin said.
"As part of the state armament program, we plan to equip the strategic missile forces with new missile systems, both stationary and mobile," Putin said in his closing remarks at the nuclear forces exercises.
The Sarmat missile is capable of overcoming all modern and prospective air defense systems, Putin said.
"Of course, we will increase the combat readiness of other types and branches of the armed forces, and work out combat training tasks based on the experience of the special military operation," Putin said.
Russia will continue to add modern nuclear-powered submarines into the navy and new upgraded bombers into the aerospace forces, Putin said.
Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that the organizational part of the joint nuclear force exercise between Belarus and Russia proceeded smoothly, and that he was pleased with its results.
"The organizational part proceeded without any glitches. It was sensible, efficient, and well-organized. Everything went smoothly," Lukashenko said, as quoted by the Belta news agency.
Belarus will not fight anyone if no one bothers it, Lukashenko added.
Earlier in the day, Belarusian Presidents Alexander Lukashenko and Putin conducted a joint nuclear force exercise remotely.
From May 19-21, the Russian armed forces are conducting exercises on the preparation and use of nuclear forces in the face of a possible aggression, with the strategic missile forces and long-range aviation involved. Belarus is also engaged in the drills.
