Belarus said Tuesday it was forced to host Russian nuclear weapons due to "unprecedented" Western pressure, insisting their deployment did not violate international agreements. "Belarus is forced to take response actions to strengthen its own security and defence capability," the foreign ministry said in a statement. Minsk has been subjected to "unprecedented" political and economic pressure from the United States and its allies, he added. Minsk also said the plans – announced over the weekend by Russian President Vladimir Putin – to station Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus would not contravene international non-proliferation agreements as Belarus would not have control over the weapons. The news came as France announced it will double the number of 155mm shells delivered to Ukraine, bringing delivery to 2,000 per month, Armed Forces Minister Sebastien Lecornu told French daily Le Figaro on Tuesday. Paris will "deliver land equipment necessary for Ukraine’s counter offensive: we are doubling the delivery of 155mm shells to bring it to 2,000 per month from end-March”, Lecornu also said in an interview with Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire.