Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has agreed to accept a deployment of tactical nuclear weapons from Russia. The situation prompted the UN Security Council to hold an emergency meeting on Friday.

Lukashenko had already allowed Russian troops to use his territory as a staging ground for the war in Ukraine. On Friday, he announced to his people that, after "intensive" negotiation, he will allow the nuclear weapons.

His country had given up nuclear arms in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union.

Lukashenko said, "I want to safeguard the state of Belarus and ensure peace for the Belarusian people. Through all their history and existence, my people have deserved that."

He added that the weapons would be for defensive purposes and that he has no intention to use them for intimidation or "blackmail."

Vassily Nebenzia, Russia's ambassador to the UN, told the emergency meeting of the Security Council that the deployment doesn't represent a new threat to peace.

Nebenzia said, "Ensuring the security of Russia and Belarus is exactly the direction of the measures announced by President Putin."

However, UN officials spoke out to highlight the danger.

Nakamitsu Izumi, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs, said, "The risk of a nuclear weapon being used is currently higher than at any time since the depths of the cold war."

Western diplomats say Russia deploying the weapons outside its territory poses an increased threat to global security. They say leaders in Moscow are intentionally violating rules against nuclear proliferation.