Western border with Belarus to be protected by another 5 battalions - Lukashenko

MINSK. March 1 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has rejected the possible involvement of the Belarusian army in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict but said that the western border of Belarus will be protected by another five battalions.

"The defense minister has reported the readiness to protect the western border with another five battalions," the presidential press service quoted Lukashenko a saying.

Air defense systems have been put on alert so that Russian forces are not stabbed in the back, he said.

"There is no other way. We are constantly expecting provocations to be staged by our Western partners either in politics, or in the economy, or in military affairs," Lukashenko said.

"Regretfully, the current situation is a direct consequence of the reckless policy of the West aimed at securing their interests to the detriment of the security of others," he said.