15 Jun 2015 17:38

Belarus military watching Ukraine developments, NATO moves - minister

MINSK. June 15 (Interfax) - Belarus' armed forces are closely monitoring developments in Ukraine and NATO activities, the Belarusian defense minister said on Monday.

"We constantly make accurate assessments of the situation in Ukraine and of the consequent state of affairs near our southern borders," a statement from the Belarusian president's office quoted Andrei Ravkov as saying during a meeting in Minsk with President Alexander Lukashenko.

Ravkov also said military exercises by NATO, including maneuvers near the Belarusian borders, had become 50% more frequent year on year.

The minister also briefed Lukashenko on "regular tests of missile and other systems that are being developed to defend the territory of Belarus," the statement said.