Łukašenka, Putin looking ahead at “other theaters of military operations”

April 11, Pozirk. Alaksandar Łukašenka has said that Minsk and Moscow will conduct joint large-scale maneuvers in Belarus in September to prepare for hostilities at “theaters of military operations” other than Ukraine.
“Despite the ongoing war, the special military operation, President Putin and I agreed that war is war but we need to look ahead and see other directions and possible theaters of military operations, God forbid. That’s why we will conduct these exercises for Belarus and Russia,” the Belarusian strongman told the Mir television network on Tuesday, commenting on preparation for the Zapad-2025 exercise. Clips from the interview were only published yesterday.
“For certain reasons, Belarus must play a major role. Because there is a big distraction now for Russian Federation troops. Well, it’s time for us to show that we can do a lot. Russian troops will be present here as well. So we will do everything to protect our common homeland from Brest to Vladivostok,” said Łukašenka, who supported Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine and allowed Russian forces to march on Kyiv from Belarusian territory after the Allied Resolve exercise in 2022.
Several months ago, in an interview with the Rossiya television station, Łukašenka threatened the West to turn defensive plans into offensive ones.
The Zapad-2025 exercise would involve more than 13,000 troops, officials said. This major exercise will be synchronized with Russia-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) drills.
Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kęstutis Budrys has warned today that the scale of Zapad exercises has always been far larger than declared, urging NATO to respond symmetrically to an increase in the number of Russian and Belarusian troops during the maneuvers.

Ukraine’s general says upcoming Zapad drill to be used for troops redeployment
- PoliticsLondon conference to discuss Belarus-Ukraine tiesThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyRubel up 13.8 percent against US dollar at cash exchange offices since JanuaryThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Society
- Politics, SocietyReporter to stand trial over alleged association with Belarusian Association of JournalistsThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyBySol evacuates over 75 from Belarus since year's startThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SocietyOver 50 political prisoners released in May – ViasnaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- EconomyBelarus’ clothing and textile conglomerate says exports to EU rose by 26 percent in 2024The material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics, SecurityLithuanian PM: Zapad-2025 no big threatThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Economy
- PoliticsŁukašenka to discuss industry modernization with Xi Jinping tomorrowThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- Society
- PoliticsIrregular Belarus-EU crossings surpass January level on June 1-2The material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsMinsk to host Eurasian security conference in OctoberThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- PoliticsBelarus' top diplomat to visit Moscow next weekThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Politics
- PoliticsReprisals: Statkievič’s incommunicado detention exceeds 840 daysThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- EconomyLeak at pipeline carrying oil from RussiaThe material is available only to POZIRK+
- Germany news, Society