Alexander Lukashenko and Vladimir Putin confirmed plans to hold joint military exercises in Belarus in 2022. This was announced at the official part of their meeting in St. Petersburg.
Lukashenko noted that he had long asked Putin that the countries not stop cooperating in the defense sector, the military-industrial complex.
"You have always supported me in this regard. I appealed to you not to stop our joint exercises. That we continue to create training centers for our guys, first of all for the new types of military equipment that we buy in Russia. We are doing that," he stated.
"I know you and your military are considering my proposals on exercises in Belarus. I would like to see these decisions made by you. It would be good for the Belarusian-Russian relations," Lukashenko added.
Putin, for his part, said:
"As you suggested, we will hold at the beginning of the year. The military will agree there. In March or February. I don't know when they will decide."
