The decision of Russia and Belarus to continue military training causes concern. This was stated by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken.
According to the American politician, the situation in the Donbass is developing exactly as Washington predicted — a false pretext for escalation is allegedly being created.
Blinken said that US President Joe Biden is ready for contacts with the Russian leader Vladimir Putin at any time and in any format, if it helps to prevent an escalation around Ukraine. In an interview with CNN, the US Secretary of State also said that plans to meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov remain in force.
As for preventive sanctions against Russia, the US is not going to introduce them for the sake of maintaining the deterrent effect, Blinken explained.
Earlier, the head of the Belarusian Defense Ministry Viktor Khrenin said that the presidents of Russia and Belarus decided to continue a joint check of the response forces. The reason for this was the military activity at the outer borders. According to Khrenin, it is planned to carefully work out the stages of defense of the Union State.