Union Resolve 2022 exercises represent a response to what is happening in Ukraine, the source of weapons and saboteurs, Lukašenka says

February 14, BPN. Joint Belarusian-Russian military exercises Union Resolve 2022 represent a response to what is happening in Ukraine, Aliaksandr Lukašenka said on February 14 in Minsk at a meeting with Oleksandr Moroz, the former Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine (he held office in 1994-1998 and 2006-2007).

“We had to conduct the drills by ourselves in order to determine where to keep a small number of troops due to what’s going on in Ukraine: this flow of weapons, our fugitives, the formation of camps, trainings. The inflow of these saboteurs comes from there, frankly speaking,” Lukašenka was quoted as saying by his press service.

He added that in this context, Belarus has decided “to strengthen the border in this area.” “I made a decision: we will conduct exercises and as a result we will decide on the areas where we need to keep some armed forces,” Lukašenka said. “Then we met with Putin, and I said: ‘Let’s hold joint exercises.’ After all, our air defense is common, we have a lot in common, we have created training centers. Russia provided us with weapons, C-400s, Iskanders, and other modern equipment so that we could study it. He [Putin] agreed, saying, ‘All right, we’ll get on board.’ And here they are. So why are they complaining that we are doing something against Ukraine? That is a completely different background.”

Union Resolve 2022 military exercises are held from February 10 to 20 as part of the Union State’s response forces inspection. Since mid-January, Russia has been actively transferring troops and military equipment to Belarus.