Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko announced that the Russian-made Oreshnik missile system has been deployed and placed on full combat alert. Speaking at the 7th All-Belarusian People’s Assembly in Minsk, Lukashenko said the system’s initial position had been prepared and deployment completed the previous day. He described the move as a signal that Belarus is ready to respond if the security situation deteriorates.

The Oreshnik system, first used by Russia in a 2024 strike on Ukraine’s Dnipro region, marks a deepening of Belarus’s military cooperation with Moscow. Lukashenko noted that the deployment followed an earlier agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin. In his address, he also discussed a “constructive but difficult” dialogue with the United States, suggesting possible talks with U.S. President Donald Trump and indicating that Washington may consider lifting sanctions.

Discussions are reportedly underway to reopen the U.S. embassy in Minsk, though security concerns remain unresolved. Lukashenko also commented on the European Union’s internal instability, reflecting Belarus’s cautious stance toward Western engagement.