Russia moves more troops westward amid Ukraine tensions
ABC News
Russian officials say Moscow is sending an unspecified number of troops from the country’s far east to Belarus for major joint drills
MOSCOW -- Russia is sending troops from the country’s far east to Belarus for major war games, officials said Tuesday, a deployment that will further beef up Russian military assets near Ukraine amid Western fears of a planned invasion.
Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin said the drills would involve practicing a joint response to external threats by Russia and Belarus, which have close political, economic and military ties.
Ukrainian officials have warned that neighboring Russia could launch an attack from various directions, including from Belarus.
A series of talks last week between Russia, the U.S. and NATO failed to quell the tensions over Ukraine. U.S. Secertary of State Antony Blinken is set to meet his Russian counterpart in Geneva on Friday in another attempt to deescalate tensions.
