Russian State Duma ratified agreement with Belarus on security guarantees

The Russian State Duma has ratified at the plenary session a treaty with Belarus on security guarantees within the Union State, signed In Minsk on December 6th, 2024, TASS reports

On February 5th, 2025, Russian President Vladimir Putin submitted the document to the State Duma for ratification. Under the treaty, the parties undertake to support each other by all means and methods agreed upon and permissible under international law, to take appropriate actions in the political, military and other spheres in cases of encroachments on the security of either party and the Union State as a whole.

It is noted that the parties will consider an armed attack on a member of the Union State as an act of aggression against the Union State as a whole and will take appropriate retaliatory measures using all forces and means at their disposal.

In addition, the parties regard Russian nuclear weapons as an important factor in preventing the outbreak of nuclear and conventional military conflicts, as well as a deterrent, the use of which is an extreme and compulsory measure.

It is also specified that Russia’s nuclear weapons may be used in response to the use of nuclear weapons or other weapons of mass destruction against any of the parties to the treaty. It may be used in case of aggression against either party with the use of conventional weapons, which poses a critical threat to its sovereignty or territorial integrity. The decision to use nuclear weapons of the Russian Federation stationed on its territory for Belarus’ defence shall be taken in accordance with the procedure established by the parties.