Russia announces dozens of army exercises with Belarus | Abroad

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg spoke on Thursday about the largest Russian force in Belarus since the end of the Cold War. Some 30,000 Russian soldiers, special forces, fighter jets and advanced missile systems are expected to travel to that country for military exercises.

These exercises come at a sensitive time. Western countries fear that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine, which also borders Belarus. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoygu visits that ally to inspect troops. He also spoke with President Alexander Lukashenko.

Tensions are rising at the Ukraine-Russia border. Former Russia correspondent Wierd Duk explains how likely a war is and Ukrainian Pavlo Levchuk follows the situation tensely from the Netherlands.

Russia denies that it has plans to invade Ukraine and blames the West. That would not adequately address concerns about Russia’s national security. The Russian government feels threatened by the expansion of NATO and demands guarantees that Ukraine cannot join that military alliance.

Tensions rose further after the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs called the Ukrainian ambassador to the floor on Thursday. Belarus says a military drone crossed the border from the neighboring country on January 24. Ukraine contradicts that.

The US State Department has expressed concern that Moscow could station troops in Belarus and attack Ukraine from there under the guise of the maneuvers.

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