Russia highly appreciates Belarus' determination to resist the destructive line of the West and readiness to form a single defense space within the borders of the Union State, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko in Minsk on Thursday. "You can always count on our firm support in this," he added.
According to him, the solidary cooperation of the two countries, as well as the desire to provide assistance to the ally as quickly and effectively as possible, were clearly demonstrated during the joint peacekeeping operation in Kazakhstan. "This is evidence that efforts to create an integrated security system are yielding results," Shoigu stressed.
He called the peacekeeping operation of the CSTO states in Kazakhstan very timely. "You quite correctly noted that January forced us to start all these exercises, inspections and joint work much earlier - and it was Kazakhstan. And, of course, thanks to the operational work of our presidents - and you, and Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, and your colleagues in the CSTO, of course - this operation was carried out in the shortest, shortest possible time.
And, as life already shows today, it is very timely," the minister addressed President Lukashenko.
The military of the two countries are going to use the experience of such a redeployment of troops at the upcoming strategic exercises "Vostok-2022" this year. "As for our exercises. We have more than 20 events ahead of us this year. And if during the exercises "Allied Resolve-2022" we transferred troops from the east here, to the western borders of the Commonwealth, then the exercises "Vostok-2022" will be in the east. And according to your decision, the Ministry of Defense, the armed forces of Belarus will participate in these exercises - a large group. Now they have to move 10 thousand kilometers there," Shoigu told the President of the republic.
In a conversation with Lukashenko, the Russian Defense Minister also noted the importance of creating joint Russian-Belarusian training centers. "Training centers - the idea that was voiced by you and supported by our president - we have implemented it," Shoigu said. - Today a joint training center has been created. I am focusing attention here because the main idea was for this to be a joint center. To fly together, to guard the airspace together."
Yuri Gavrilov
