MINSK – The Zapad (West) 2017 Belarusian-Russian military exercise, which will be held in Belarus in September, is open and is of a defensive nature, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said.
“The drills are open. We are inviting or have already invited a multitude of observers. You are welcome to come and watch,” the president said at a meeting with senior officials of the Belarusian Security Council’s State Secretariat in Minsk on Thursday.
Lukashenko reiterated that the upcoming exercise would be of a defensive nature.
“A great deal has been said about it [the Zapad 2017 exercise], and I would like to hear something new,” he said.
“As for all of the old questions, namely NATO’s concerns, and our neighbors, and I have visited Ukraine recently, have explained everything to everyone,” Lukashenko was quoted as saying by his press service.
