“In connection with the increase in military activity near the external borders of the Union State and the aggravation of the situation in the Donbass, the Presidents of the Republic of Belarus and the Russian Federation decided to continue checking the response forces of the Union State,” the message says.
It is noted that the check is designed to ensure an adequate response and de-escalation of possible hostilities by ill-wishers near the borders of the two states.
Earlier, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, following talks in the Kremlin with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, said that the joint exercises of the two states did not threaten anyone and were defensive in nature.