Viewers Corner News correspondent in Moscow learnt that Russia and Belarus will perform joint war games early next year. According to the report, President Vladimir Putin praised Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s suggestion to organize more military training, which he said could take place in February or March. President Putin, during his recent meeting with Lukashenko in St. Petersburg said that Military authorities would coordinate specifics. President Putin’s declaration comes amid a Russian force buildup near Ukraine, which has sparked fears of an invasion from the West. Some Ukrainian officials have expressed concern that Russia could strike the country from Belarusian soil. Russia has denied having plans to attack Ukraine, but has asked the US and its allies to reassure them that NATO will not extend or install its armaments in Ukraine. His demands were rejected by the West. Russia and Belarus have a union agreement that anticipates close political, economic, and military ties. Russia has always backed President Lukashenko, despite Western criticism. The pressure escalated after a harsh crackdown on internal demonstrations provoked by Lukashenko’s reelection to a sixth term in an August 2020 election that the opposition and the West accused of being rigged. Tensions have risen since tens of thousands of migrants and refugees arrived on Belarus’ border with EU member Poland last summer. The EU accuses Lukashenko of retaliating for EU sanctions by using desperate asylum seekers as weapons and tricking them into trying to enter Poland. In September, Russia held large-scale war drills with Belarus, involving 200,000 soldiers, as a show of solidarity for Lukashenko. Moscow has sent its nuclear-capable aircraft on patrol above Belarus several times in the last few weeks. Belarus’ airspace was monitored by Russian and Belarusian fighter jets on Wednesday.
Source: Viewers Corner News.