Troops take part in the joint military drills of the armed forces of Russia and Belarus at a firing range in the Brest Region, Belarus February 19, 2022. — Vadim Yakubyonok/Belta handout pic via Reuters
MOSCOW, Feb 21 — Belarus said today that the withdrawal of Russian troops from its territory would depend to a large extent on Nato pulling back its forces from near Belarus and Russia, opening up the possibility they could remain there indefinitely.
Russia deployed what Nato called its biggest military force to Belarus since the Cold War ended for joint exercises that started on February 10, part of a wider buildup near Ukraine that has fuelled fears of a looming war. Read full story
The exercises to the north of Ukraine were meant to end yesterday, but instead Minsk announced they would be extended, citing an increase in military activity near Belarus and Russia. Read full story
Today, the Belarusian Ministry of Defence took a harder position still, circulating remarks by the ex-Soviet republic’s chief of general staff in a statement.
“The Russian Armed Forces’ units will return to their permanent bases only when a objective need for that arises and when we decide,” Belarusian army chief Viktor Gulevich was quoted as saying.
“In no small measure this will also depend on our Western counterparts. The forces and equipment deployed in the eastern European region, including near Belarus… are one of the factors that influence the development of the situation,” he said.
He said that Minsk believed it was within its rights to demand the withdrawal of US and Nato member forces from near the Belarusian border.
Belarus borders Nato members Poland, Latvia and Lithuania, as well as Ukraine to the south. — Reuters