Minsk, Moscow to look at ‘expanding frames’ of joint force — Russian defense minister

Minsk and Moscow may look at "expanding the frames" of the joint group of forces, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said at a meeting with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko on Monday.

"Indeed, the group is rather large. And, naturally, today we will look at all issues related to its further stay, training and, probably, expanding the frames you discussed with [Russian President] Vladimir Putin," the BelTA ndews agency quoted him as saying.

The Russian minister thanked the Belarusian side for the organization of the battlegroup’s training. "I would like to say special thanks to your ministry of defense and personally to you. Five firing ranges have been allocated in Belarus. They are well-equipped. Moreover, a large number of instructors - officers of the Belarusian armed force - are involved to train troops, including ours," Shoigu noted.

Lukashenko, in turn, said that his country and Russia have agreed that in the even of an aggression against Belarus, Russia will defend it as its own territory.