France's Le Drian calls Russian-Belarusian drills "violent gesture"
The French Foreign Minister considers the drills an act of "violence" in light of the western concerns surrounding Russia and Ukraine.
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Le Drian said France is currently in talks with Moscow to "prevent escalation." (Reuters)
French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian called the Russian-Belarusian joint drills a "very violent gesture."
In an interview with France Inter radio, Le Drian said the drills indicate a "reality" that Russia is preparing itself to launch an aggression against Ukraine.
The position of the French Foreign Minister comes after the Russian Ministry of Defense announced, today, Thursday, the start of joint Russian-Belarusian military exercises under the title "Union Packages-2022" in Belarus.
The Russian Defense Ministry announced Thursday that Russia and Belarus have started the Allied Resolve-2022 joint drills on the Belarusian military ranges.
According to the Ministry, the drills are aimed at training actions on preventing and combating external aggression, counteracting terrorism, and protecting the interests of the Union State.
NATO: The drills are dangerous for Europe's security
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the drills represent a dangerous moment for Europe's security, describing the Russian deployment as the "biggest since the Cold War."
In a joint press conference with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, NATO is closely following the deployment of Russia in Belarus.
In January, Stoltenberg said the deployment of troops “takes place under the disguise of an exercise, but it integrates very much the Russian forces and the Belarusian forces.”
According to observers, the military drills exacerbated Western fears regarding Russia.
The drills are scheduled to continue until February 20, and the Kremlin confirmed that Russian soldiers will return home after their conclusion.
According to TASS, in a statement issued February 3, Russia's Defense Ministry said, "S-400 ‘Triumf’ anti-aircraft missile systems of the Eastern Military District’s Air Force and Air Defense Army involved in an inspection of the Union State’s Response Force have arrived in Belarus."
In conjunction with the Russian-Belarusian exercises, Ukraine will also conduct exercises from February 10 to 20 using Turkish Bayraktar attack aircraft, American Javelin portable anti-tank missiles, and portable NLAW anti-armor missiles.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will also travel next week to Kiev and Moscow to hold separate talks with the Ukrainian and Russian presidents.
Ukraine receives batches of US lethal weapons
On Friday, Ukrainian Defense Minister Oleskii Reznikov revealed that the Ukrainian military has already received weapons from the United States as part of their latest military aid package.
By the end of December 2021, the Biden administration approved sending a security package worth $200 million to Ukraine, which includes lethal defensive assistance such as Javelin anti-tank missiles and ammunition.
Last week, nearly 2000 US troops have left the Fort Bragg base in North Carolina, heading for Europe.
Pentagon Spokesperson John Kirby claimed the United States has evidence that Moscow plans to "fabricate" a pretext to invade Ukraine.
However, the Kremlin rejected the accusations which the Russians described as part of the misinformation war on the country.
