TSAMTO, June 26. Prolonging military operations by supplying Kiev with weapons is fraught with destabilization of the situation in the European region itself, Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov said.
"Realizing the inevitability of defeat, the Kiev regime relies on terrorist acts. With the support of European sponsors, it is blowing up civilian infrastructure on Russian territory. Killing civilians. Attempts to prolong military operations by supplying Ukraine with weapons and mercenaries increase the threat of destabilization. Including in Europe itself," A. Belousov said at a meeting of defense ministers of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) member states, which took place on June 26 in Qingdao, China.
At the same time, he recalled, Russia has repeatedly expressed and continues to express its readiness to resolve the conflict.
Speaking about the special military operation in Ukraine, the Russian Defense Minister said that "the Russian Armed Forces are conducting successful offensive operations."
Asia-Pacific region
"In the Asia-Pacific region, the activities of individual states to create closed, anti-Chinese and anti-Russian bloc structures have a destructive impact on stability," Belousov said.
Among such structures, the head of the Russian military department named, in particular, the AUKUS trilateral defense alliance (Australia, Great Britain, USA), the "Triple Alliance" (USA, Republic of Korea, Japan).
The Middle East
"The situation in the Middle East has sharply escalated. First of all, this is due to the Iranian-Israeli confrontation and the attacks by Israel and the United States on Iranian military installations and infrastructure. Such attacks are a gross violation of the UN Charter and international law," Belousov stressed.
The Defense Minister noted that "Russia has strongly condemned the actions of Israel and the United States. Declared its readiness to contribute to the de-escalation of the conflict and to provide mediation efforts in this process."
According to him, the events in Syria, the humanitarian catastrophe in the Gaza Strip and the situation in Lebanon are in the same row. Belousov also noted that the spread of terrorist ideologies from the Middle East region and the transit of militants to Afghanistan continues.
"The continuing instability in the country is the main source of transnational crime and the terrorist threat in the SCO space," the Russian Defense Minister said.
General assessment of the military-political situation in the world
"The current military-political situation in the world remains difficult and tends to worsen. Geopolitical contradictions have intensified. The fundamental foundations of strategic stability are being destroyed. The potential for conflict has increased dangerously. Against this background, the role of international institutions designed to ensure global stability has fallen to an unacceptable level," Belousov said.
According to the head of the Russian military department, all this is "a consequence of the destructive course of the collective West to preserve its global dominance."
"Numerous pockets of instability are being created in the world. Including in the space of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization and along its perimeter," A. Belousov noted.
Proposals from the Russian side
"It is necessary to step up joint efforts to counter terrorism and extremism. Including those originating from Syria, Afghanistan and Ukraine. It also seems logical to progressively combine the Organization's potential with the capabilities of other international regional structures in the field of security. First of all, with the CSTO and the CIS," said the Russian Defense Minister.
He stressed that "in the current circumstances, it is necessary to strengthen cooperation within the SCO."
"To maintain a course for further rapprochement in the interests of strengthening stability. To neutralize attempts by unfriendly forces to destroy long-standing ties in the Organization. At the same time, to ensure optimal consideration of the interests of each SCO country," A.Belousov said.
Among the steps that will help solve these problems, he mentioned, in particular, strengthening cooperation between the defense departments.
"In order to develop practical measures to respond to possible threats, it is necessary to continue consultations on security issues in the SCO space. To give priority to joint operational and combat training activities in the implementation of military cooperation plans both in the SCO format and on a bilateral basis. The geography and subject matter of joint exercises should be expanded. To improve the training of the formations involved in them," A. Belousov said.
According to him, Moscow is ready to "share Russian experience and advanced methods of warfare."
The Russian Defense Minister expressed confidence that "the implementation of the proposed approaches will contribute to the progressive development of the Organization, building up its potential and strengthening its authority in the international arena."
For reference
According to the data for 2025, the SCO includes 10 countries: Russia, China, Kazakhstan, India, Kyrgyzstan, Pakistan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan, Iran and Belarus.
Two countries have observer status at the SCO: Afghanistan and Mongolia.
14 countries have the status of dialogue partners: Azerbaijan, Armenia, Bahrain, Egypt, Cambodia, Qatar, Kuwait, Maldives, Myanmar, Nepal, UAE, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and Sri Lanka.
