A few days before the start of a controversial military maneuver, Russia has transferred Sukhoi Su-25SM fighter jets to Belarus.

The machines were brought over 7,000 kilometers from the Primorye region on the Sea of ​​Japan to military airfields in the Brest area near the Polish border, the Defense Ministry announced in Moscow on Saturday.

The ministry did not provide any information on their exact number.

The West fears that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine.

The military leaders in Belarus and Russia have repeatedly emphasized that the troop deployment is purely for training purposes, does not pose a threat to anyone and is in accordance with international law.

Moscow and Minsk have denied Western allegations that they are preparing for an invasion of neighboring Ukraine.

The maneuver is scheduled to take place from February 10th to 20th.

Does Moscow want to stir up fears?

With tens of thousands of Russian soldiers deployed near Ukraine, there are fears that the Kremlin is planning an invasion.

Moscow denies that. It is also considered possible that the Russian side wants to stir up fears in order to persuade NATO to make concessions on demands for new security guarantees.

NATO had also accused Russia of currently relocating around 30,000 soldiers to Belarus, north of Ukraine. The combat troops would also come with aircraft, nuclear-capable Iskander missiles, S-400 air defense systems and special units of the GRU military intelligence service. Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the total number of troops involved in the maneuvers did not exceed a maximum set in 2011. This could have a maximum of 13,000 soldiers, 300 tanks, 500 armored vehicles and 3500 paratroopers.

According to the Polish military, the first American reinforcement troops that President Joe Biden is sending to Poland because of the Ukraine crisis have arrived.

"The first soldiers arrived safely at Jesionka Airport," said army spokesman Przemyslaw Lipczynski on Saturday.

1,700 of the announced 2,000 American soldiers are to be stationed in the neighboring country of Ukraine, the remaining 300 in Germany.

The first of the promised American troops also arrived in Wiesbaden on Friday.

When the soldiers were relocated from Fort Bragg in the state of North Carolina to the Hessian state capital, the American army "worked closely with the German allies," said a spokesman for the Ministry of Defense.

The Pentagon announced the troop deployment on Wednesday amid massive tensions with Russia.

According to this, 1,000 American soldiers currently stationed in Bavaria are also to be sent to Romania.

"The current situation makes it necessary for us to strengthen the deterrence and defense posture on NATO's eastern flank," Pentagon spokesman John Kirby said.

Kiesewetter makes proposals for arms deliveries

The CDU foreign policy expert Roderich Kiesewetter has made concrete proposals for possible arms deliveries to Ukraine.

Germany can "make a credible contribution with telecommunications reconnaissance, jammers against Russian communications, night vision devices, but also anti-tank technology or anti-aircraft missiles," he told the "Rheinische Post" and the "General-Anzeiger" on Saturday.

These are "rather defensive weapons".

"Selective arms deliveries to Ukraine would help to increase the deterrent effect in order to change Putin's calculations and Russia's escalation dominance," Kiesewetter said.

A “credible reaction by Germany to the threat to Ukraine from Russia” is needed.

Federal Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD) wants to travel to Moscow on February 15 and meet Russian President Vladimir Putin there. Scholz had to make "a clear commitment to the European security order, to standing up for Ukraine and the position of NATO," said Kiesewetter. "This includes the clear announcement to President Putin that Germany is not prepared to rule out any sanctions and is also prepared to accept disadvantages and costs."

Svetlana Alexievich and Herta Müller, winners of the Nobel Prize in Literature, also demand arms deliveries to Ukraine.

"Of course" Germany should help Ukraine with weapons for self-defense, Alexievich told the "Spiegel".

"Ukraine should emerge victorious from this conflict, which is important for democracy in Ukraine and also in Belarus."

Müller criticized the sentence by Federal Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens), "he who talks does not shoot", with which she wanted to make the importance of dialogue clear.

This statement was "stupid" and "worn out", Müller told the "Spiegel".

"It's terrible how our politicians are now expressing themselves." Especially the Germans with their history should help Ukraine, said Müller.

Left faction leader Dietmar Bartsch sees the situation differently.

"Weapons are delivered in case of war - and war must never be a political tool and Germany must not support it," he said on Saturday on RBB Inforadio.

He finds it wrong to deliver 5,000 helmets to Ukraine, which Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht (SPD) announced at the end of January.