“From a legal point of view, the use of military force by the Kyiv regime or an invasion of the territory of Belarus or Russia by the armed forces of Ukraine are sufficient grounds for a collective response.”
This was stated in an interview with TASS by Alexei Polishchuk, director of the Second Department for CIS countries in the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Polishchuk explained that such collective actions can only be taken if the leaders of both countries deem it necessary.
Russia and Belarus are stepping up their joint military exercises
According to him, the joint military maneuvers of Russia and Belarus are of a defensive nature and aim to dissuade potential opponents from inciting tension and carrying out provocations.
“We have full mutual understanding on the issue with our Belarusian allies,” the diplomat emphasized. He noted that in connection with the military-political situation since October last year, additional contingents of the Russian-Belarusian regional military group have been deployed on Belarusian territory and various military exercises have been held.
In mid-October, Minsk announced that the first echelons of Russian soldiers had arrived in Belarus to replenish the joint military group being formed in the region. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on December 19 after talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko that the two countries will continue joint exercises and other practices affecting the combat training of their forces. In early January, the Belarusian Ministry of Defense said that the joint group continues to expand and is ready to perform tasks aimed at protecting the Union State between Russia and Belarus.
Can Belarus change the course of the war in Ukraine
The Belarusian Defense Ministry said earlier this month that Moscow and Minsk had reinforced their joint military structure in Belarus with weapons, soldiers and specialized equipment and planned to hold a joint aviation exercise. Later, the ministry specified that the exercise was scheduled for the period January 16-February 1.
