Kenya to sell 35 state-owned companies Kenya to sell 35 state-owned companies

Stating that Belarus is a strategic partner and a reliable ally of Russia, Shoigu emphasized that this is very important nowadays when the situation around the borders of the Russian-Belarusian Union State is deteriorating.

Noting that since February last year, the number of NATO troops in Eastern Europe and the Baltic states has increased 2.5 times and exceeded 30 thousand people, Shoigu pointed out that more than half of them are US troops.

"On the eastern flank of the alliance, large exercises based on scenarios of military confrontation with Russia and Belarus are regularly held. The use of nuclear weapons is tested through the use of US strategic aviation and NATO's tactical nuclear forces."

Shoigu said that Finland's entry into NATO and the organization of joint events in Sweden created an additional source of tension, pointing out that the deployment of coalition military bases and offensive weapons on the territory of these countries in the near future cannot be ruled out.

"The total amount of funds spent on Ukraine has reached almost 200 billion dollars," Shoigu said.

Noting that the United States and its allies have provided Ukraine with armored vehicles, air defense systems and high-precision missiles, Shoigu said Washington included cluster munitions in its military aid packages in violation of international conventions.

"We are taking appropriate measures against these threats and strengthening our western borders," Shoigu said, adding that the issue of supplying F-16 tactical fighter jets to Kiev has also moved to a practical level and deliveries are expected next year.

Belarusian Defense Minister Hrenin recalled that in order to develop military cooperation between Russia and Belarus, an agreement was signed on the creation and operation of combat training centers for the joint training of Belarusian military personnel.

"Work was carried out to equip storage sites for non-strategic Russian nuclear weapons on the territory of Belarus, basic training of personnel on their use was carried out," Hrenin said, adding that in practice, joint combat training activities were carried out on the preparation of a regional grouping of troops and a unified regional air defense system.