MINSK: Belarus‘s Security Council has said that joint Air Force drills with Russia, due to start next week, were purely defensive in nature and would focus on reconnaissance missions and how to thwart a potential attack, the RIA Novosti news agency reported.
Minsk also said it was “ready” for any “provocative actions” by Ukraine, as a flurry of military activity in the country has triggered fresh fears in Kyiv and the West that Russia could be preparing to use its ally – which acted as a springboard for Russia’s invasion last February – to mount a new ground offensive on Ukraine.
On the other hand, The German ministry of defence has said Russia’s leaders and forces responsible for war crimes in Ukraine “must be held accountable”. –Agencies
