Minsk. February 12. INTERFAX - US Senator James Lankford has submitted to the US Senate a draft law on the responsibility of Belarus for aggression.
"Senator James Lankford (Republican representative from Oklahoma) introduced the "Law on Belarus' Responsibility for Aggression" to keep Belarus from allowing Russia to use its territory to invade Ukraine," the senator's website says.
The bill provides for the imposition of sanctions on Belarus or any other country "that supports Russia's ongoing unprovoked aggression against the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine."
Sanctions are provided in the following cases: participation jointly with Russia in the invasion of Ukraine, provision of material, tactical or other support to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, deployment of Russian troops participating in the invasion of Ukraine, work with the Russian intelligence sector during the invasion of Ukraine, acquisition or transfer of lethal weapons used in the invasion of Ukraine.
"Belarus is letting thousands of Russian servicemen into its country, to the border with Ukraine. The United States should make it clear that tough economic and diplomatic sanctions will be applied to any country that supports Russia's attempts to invade Ukraine," commented Lankford.
"It's easier to stop a war that hasn't started than to try to end it in the process. This is a strong position that America can take to confront Russia and Belarus as they continue to threaten Ukraine's independence," he added.
As reported, Russia and Belarus are conducting an inspection of the Armed Response Forces of the Union State. At the first stage - on February 9 - the redeployment and creation of groups of troops took place. At the second stage - from February 10 to 20 - the joint exercises "Allied Determination-2022" are held.
A number of units of the Armed Forces of Belarus, as well as parts of the Eastern Military District, the Aerospace Forces (VKS) and Airborne Troops (Airborne Forces) of Russia are taking part in the exercises. Su-35 fighters, S-400 Triumph long-range air defense systems, and Pantsir-S short-range air defense systems have been relocated to Belarus from Russia, in particular.
In Belarus, four training grounds ("Obuz-Lesnovsky", "Osipovichi", "Brest", "Gozhsky"), a number of terrain areas, as well as four airfields (in Baranovichi, Luninets, Lida and Machulishchi) are involved in the exercises.
