Russia and Belarus have launched the "West-2025" exercise, which will be held at several training grounds in Belarus and in the Baltic Sea and the Barents Sea.
Countries such as Poland have strongly reacted to the exercise, viewing it as a provocation and a threat. Polish Prime Minister Tusk said the Russian-Belarusian exercise is very aggressive and therefore decided to completely close railway and road border checkpoints with Belarus. In response to the exercise, Poland announced that it will deploy about 40,000 soldiers along its eastern border, a significant increase from the original plan. Lithuania has also increased patrols along its border with Belarus.
The officials of Russia and Belarus have repeatedly emphasized that the exercise is not directed against any third country and is defensive in nature. Vyacheslav Volfovich, the State Secretary of the Belarusian Security Council, pointed out that to ease tensions, the exercise has been moved from border training grounds near Poland to inland areas of Belarus. The Russian Foreign Ministry also stated that the number of participating troops and equipment has been reduced and called on Poland to reconsider its decision to close the border.
Ukraine is also very tense, fearing that Russian forces may again launch an attack on the Kyiv area from the direction of Belarus.
Original article: www.toutiao.com/article/1843070078816347/
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