NATO condemns Putin’s ‘dangerous’ nuclear rhetoric

NATO has condemned Vladimir Putin for “dangerous” nuclear rhetoric after the Russian president announced plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus, while Russian forces intensified shelling of the frontline Ukrainian city of Avdiivka. Mr Putin likened his Belarus plan to the US stationing its weapons in Europe, insisting Russia would not violate its nuclear non-proliferation promises. The move, while not unexpected, is one of Russia’s most pronounced nuclear signals yet and a warning to NATO over its military support for Ukraine, which has called for a meeting of the UN Security Council in response. “Russia’s nuclear rhetoric is dangerous…