Lukashenka: Russia-Belarus West-2017 war game poses no threat to Ukraine


Аlyaksandr Lukashenka and Petro Poroshenko, April 26 

During the meeting on April 26, Alyaksandr Lukashenka assured Petro Poroshenko that the Russian-Belarusian military drills West-2017 would not pose any threats to Ukraine.

According to the Ukrainian leader, he did not doubt Belarus’s good intentions. At the same time, Belarus is Russia’s ally, and Russia had Ukraine’s trust betrayed, he said.

“I received a firm assurance that the planned Russian-Belarusian strategic military drills West-2017 near the border of Ukraine will not turn into preparation by the Russian Federation a springboard for the invasion into Ukraine from the Belarusian territory,” interfax Ukraine cites Poroshenko.

The two presidents also agreed to complete the demarcation of the joint state border in the near future.

In mid April, Oleksandr Turchynov, Secretary of the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine, stressed that the joint military exercise may become the preparation for an assault against Ukraine in September.

The West-2017 war game is scheduled for September, 14-20. It will be the final stage of the joint training of the armed forces of the two countries this year.

Lithuanian President Dalia Grybauskaite and a number of European politicians believe that the ‘West-2017’ demonstrates the preparation of Belarus and Russia to the war with the West. Some Belarusian experts repeatedly raised concerns to those of Turchynov.

belsat.eu

TWITTER