Minsk. February 20. INTERFAX-AVN - The General Staffs of Belarus and Russia will work out further steps to check the forces of the Union State, first of all they will be aimed at preventing war, Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said.
"The General Staffs of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation will work out joint further steps, and we will implement these decisions. First of all, they are aimed at preventing war," Khrenin said following the results of the completed exercises of Belarus and Russia, the video of which was published in the telegram channel of the Ministry of Defense of the Republic.
"Our presidents, meeting, repeatedly said this: "We do not want war." However, they don't hear us or don't want to hear us. Therefore, an appropriate grouping of troops has been created, which, if necessary, will give an appropriate rebuff," he said.
On February 10, Russia and Belarus began major maneuvers "Allied
determination - 2022". Exercises in Belarus, to which Russia has transferred
a number of units and subunits of the Eastern Military District were to
last until February 20. In Moscow and Minsk, it was stated that the Russian
the military will return to their permanent locations after the exercises.
However, earlier on Sunday, Khrenin said that the presidents
Belarus and Russia have decided to continue testing the response forces
The Union State due to the increase in military activity in the external
the borders of the Union State and the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass.
The maneuvers are taking place against the backdrop of a crisis in relations between Russia and NATO.
The United States, other NATO countries and Ukraine announced the concentration of Russian
troops at the Ukrainian border and the threat of a Russian invasion.
Moscow has repeatedly stated that Russia has no aggressive plans against Ukraine.