Russia does not reveal much about the military activities in Belarus, but claims that the exercises are exclusively of a defensive nature.
Russia also claims that neither the estimated 30,000 Russian soldiers currently living in Belarus, according to Western estimates, the more than 100,000 located just north of Ukraine, nor the military escalation in the occupied Crimean peninsula are in any way threatening Ukraine.
But it is clear that the outside world is worried about the exercises in Belarus.
30,000 soldiers, units from the elite forces "Spetsnaz", fighter aircraft (SU-35), the air defense system S-400 and the robot Iskander that can carry nuclear weapons can make anyone nervous.
In addition, President Putin recently hinted that an attempt by Ukraine (if the country joins NATO) to retake Crimea could lead to a nuclear war.
From defiant foreign policy stance to obediently following the Kremlin
Belarus's dictator Alexander Lukashenko has previously expressed a kind of defiant foreign policy stance towards Russian President Putin.
But since Putin sent Russian forces to quell the massive protests following the Belarusian presidential election fraud in 2020, Lukashenko has obediently joined the Kremlin's leash.
It is difficult to imagine that Lukashenko, or the Belarusian military, would have any influence if Putin decides to invade.
Possibly, the ongoing exercises can increase the countries' military cooperation capability.
But if there is a war, everything will be controlled from Moscow.
At the same time as the Russian military is preparing for the invasion, the diplomatic game is in full swing.
Although what is said at the countless meetings held in Moscow, Kiev, Berlin, Geneva and Washington is basically always the same thing.
- You are threatening us, and the worst threat to us is Ukraine, says Russia.
And NATO must commit itself never to allow Ukraine or Georgia to join.
- You are threatening Ukraine with war, says NATO.
And you have no right to decide over either Ukraine and Georgia, or for that matter Sweden and Finland.
Ukraine - almost surrounded
The exercises in Belarus are part of the threatening game that Russia is now engaging in.
The Ukrainian capital Kiev is only fifteen miles from the border with Belarus.
The city of Kharkiv in northeastern Ukraine just 40 km from Russia and Mariupol in the south very close to the Russian forces that are possibly preparing to advance west and meet Russian forces coming north from the occupied Crimean peninsula.
In addition, Russia's fleet is now launching exercises in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.
Ukraine is today almost completely surrounded by the Russian military.
The information coming from the United States, NATO and other representatives of the West is part of the propaganda war that is already going on.
But the information provided by Russia has far lower credibility.
The fact that Russia, together with Belarus, must now train together to withstand a threatening Ukraine is simply outrageous.