Lukashenko Informs of Joint Regional Military Formation with Putin

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has announced that he and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed to create a joint regional military formation.

Lukashenko recalled that following the informal CIS summit in St. Petersburg, he held a face-to-face meeting with Putin.

"Given the escalation of the situation on the western borders of the Union State, we have agreed to establish a joint regional formation of the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus. If the level of threat reaches the current level, as it is now, we will begin to activate the formation of the Union State. The basis of this formation (as I have always said) is the army of the Republic of Belarus, the Armed Forces. I must inform you that the formation of this group has commenced. It is already underway, in my opinion, within the last two days. I have ordered that we start forming this group," said Lukashenko.