The decision by Moscow and Minsk to continue holding joint military exercises close to the border with Ukraine shows that Russia could be readying itself to launch a full-blown offensive against its neighboring nation, NATO’s top official has said amid a worsening standoff between the two former Soviet Republics.
Speaking as part of an interview with CBS aired on Sunday, Jens Stoltenberg set out his view on the heightened tensions in Eastern Europe.
“So last week, actually, Russia said that they will step back. Russia is stepping up with more troops and higher and even closer to the Ukrainian border,” he said.
Stoltenberg also gave a grim prediction as a result of Russia and Belarus’ move to prolong the Union Resolve 2022 drills, which were due to end on Sunday. “The fact that this exercise, they said should end today, will now continue … all of this fits into the picture that Russia is preparing for an invasion of Ukraine,” he added.