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Russia and Belarus have the right to ensure their own security, including by cooperating in the military-nuclear realm, amid a hybrid war unleashed against them by the US, TASS reported, citing the Russian Embassy in Washington.

"We have noted increasingly frequent comments in recent days coming from White House and State Department concerning the Russia-Belarus military-nuclear cooperation. They once again accused us of ‘irresponsible and provocative’ behavior," the Russian diplomatic agency wrote on its Telegram channel on Friday.

"We would like to emphasize that it is the sovereign right of Russia and Belarus to ensure their security by means we deem necessary amidst of a large-scale hybrid war unleashed by Washington against us," its commentary said.

"The measures we undertake are fully consistent with our international legal obligations. As Minister of Defense, General of the Army Sergey Shoigu stated, Russia is not transferring nuclear weapons to Belarus: the control over them and decision on their use remain with the Russian side," the document stressed.

"Before blaming others, Washington could use some introspection. The United States has been for decades maintaining a large arsenal of its nuclear weapons in Europe. Together with its NATO allies it participates in nuclear sharing arrangements and trains for scenarios of nuclear weapons use against our country," the embassy noted.