The autocratic ruler of the former Soviet republic of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, has accused NATO of planning an attack on his country and has threatened the use of nuclear weapons. “An attack on Belarus means World War III,” the Belarusian president said, according to the state news agency BelTA, during an appearance before students in Minsk. Both Belarus and its close ally Russia would use nuclear weapons in such a case, he said. Lukashenko thanked Russian President Vladimir Putin for the recent change to the Russian nuclear doctrine. During his speech at the State University of Informat…