MINSK, 30 December 2021, (TON): President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko said at a meeting with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin that Belarusians appreciate Russia’s support and will not remain in debt, and suggested continuing cooperation in the defense sector, including joint exercises and the creation of centers for training military equipment.

Lukashenko at a meeting with Putin said “remember, no matter how our relations develop, we will not remain in debt. I think that we can still do a lot. And I have asked you for a long time not to stop cooperation in the military sphere, the defense industry and the military-industrial complex.”

President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko stressed that his Russian colleague has always supported him in this regard.

Lukashenka continued “I turned to you so that you do not stop our joint exercises, so that we continue to create centers to train our children in new models of military equipment, which we buy from Russia, we are doing this.”

He added that the practice of holding joint exercises of the armies of the two countries should not be stopped, and reminded that the Russian side is considering Minsk’s proposals on such exercises on the territory of Belarus.