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Ukrainian foreign ministry: We are concerned about attempts to draw Belarus into Russian aggression against Ukraine

The Ukrainian foreign ministry is concerned about Russia’s attempts to involve Belarus in its act of aggression against Ukraine, the ministry`s spokesman, Yevhen Perebyinis, told BelaPAN on Thursday.

Six Sukhoi Su-27 Flanker fighter jets and three military transport aircraft landed at an airfield in Babruysk, Mahilyow region, on Thursday, one day after Belarus invited Russia to deploy up to 15 additional warplanes in the Belarusian territory in response to increased NATO activity.

According to the Belarusian defense ministry, Russia’s fighter jets will be involved in the second stage of a large-scale exercise that kicked off in Belarus in late January to test the combat readiness of the Belarusian army. The presence of Russian aircraft is necessary to assess the readiness of the Common Regional Air Defense System of Belarus and Russia to perform its functions, the press office said.

“We’re informed that some Russian military units have been deployed in Belarus as part of the maneuvers in Russia’s western Belgorod and Kursk provinces,” Mr. Perebyinis said. “This means that Russia is making every effort to involve our friends in its aggression against Ukraine.”

Although the presence of Russian troops in the Belarusian territory is Belarus’ business, Ukraine cannot but be concerned about it amid the invasion of the Crimea region by the Russian army, Mr. Perebyinis said. “We’re feeling a direct threat to our national interests and national security,” he added.

Speaking about the refusal of members of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) to hold an emergency meeting of the CIS Council of Foreign Ministers in Kyiv on March 12 on Ukraine’s initiative, Mr. Perebyinis said that Ukraine was disappointed by rejection of its request. Kyiv believes that the CIS has “withdrawn itself” from responding to an act of aggression against its member, he said.

Mr. Perebyinis said that Ukraine had not yet made a decision to quit the Commonwealth and continued to hold its chairmanship. However, the dismissal of its request for an emergency meeting “causes us to seriously doubt the efficiency of this organization,” he said.

When asked whether withdrawal from the Commonwealth was on the agenda for Ukraine, Mr. Perebyinis said, “We’re considering all possible options.”