Belarus, Russia's ally on Ukraine's border, says it could host nuclear weapons if threatened

Moscow — Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said Thursday his country could host nuclear weapons if it faces any external threats, as tensions soar between his ally Russia and the West over Ukraine. Lukashenko is due to hold talks with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Friday.

"If necessary, if such stupid and mindless steps are taken by our rivals and opponents, we will deploy not only nuclear weapons, but super-nuclear and up-and-coming ones to protect our territory," Lukashenko said, according to the state-run Belta news agency.

"But if there are no threats to Belarus from unfriendly countries, then nuclear weapons are not needed here for a hundred years," he added.