Alexander Lukashenko has offered nuclear weapons to countries willing to join Belarus and Russia in the fight against Ukraine.
Alexander Lukashenko wants other nations to join his alliance with Russia
The Belarusian leader, a close ally of Putin, made the comments in an interview just days after the transfer of some nuclear weapons from Moscow to Minsk had started.
During the interview on Russian state television, Lukashenko said: "No one minds Kazakhstan and other countries having the same close relations that we have with the Russian Federation.
"It's very simple. Join the Union State of Belarus and Russia. That's all: there will be nuclear weapons for everyone."
The Agreement on Establishment of the Union State of Belarus and Russia Treaty set up a legal basis for economic, technological and border security alliance among other things between the two countries.
It is not clear how wide Lukashenko's invitation to join the Union State was extended but no other specifics have been offered.
The Belarusian tyrant confirmed last week that the transfer of nuclear weapons from Russia to Belarus had begun following an agreement between the two nations.
Lukashenko said: "It was necessary to prepare storage sites, and so on. We did all this. Therefore, the movement of nuclear weapons began."
The leader has also pledged that the weapons will be safe.
He said: "This is not even up for discussion. Don't worry about nuclear weapons. We are responsible for this. There are serious issues. Everything will be alright here."