Russian President Vladimir Putin (R) greets Belarus’ President Alexander Lukashenko at the Konstantin Palace presidential residence in Strelna, outside St. Petersburg, on December 29, 2021. (Photo of AFP)

Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia and Belarus plan to hold another round of joint military drills early next year, amid rising tensions between Moscow and the West.

As you presumed, we will hold them (the drills) and the militaries will agree their date, in March or February, when they decide, the Russian leader said on Wednesday, commenting on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko’s proposal to hold another round of military drills at the beginning of their talks in St. Petersburg.

The two allies held large-scale military exercises in September. Putin at the time said that the military drills were not directed against any foreign country, but called them a necessary response to increased US-led NATO activity near Russia’s borders and those of its allies.

Up to 200,000 military personnel, some 80 aircraft and helicopters, up to 15 ships, and nearly 300 tanks took part in the week-long drills, according to the Russian Defense Ministry.

Lukashenko on Wednesday asked Putin not to stop cooperation in the military sector and the defense industry.

I have just requested you not to halt our joint drills so that we can continue setting up centers for training our guys, first of all, to learn to operate advanced weapon systems that we are purchasing from Russia, he said.

I would want these decisions to be made by you. This will benefit the Belarus-Russia relations, Lukashenko continued, addressing Putin.

The two leaders also agreed to continue the cooperation of the two countries on aircraft construction.

The development comes as Russia and NATO have recently been at odds over Ukraine. Kiev, along with Western countries, accuses Moscow of preparing for an invasion of Ukraine by amassing troops and armaments near the border with that country.

Moscow says it is free to move its military within its borders and that it is taking precautionary steps because of increased NATO activity near its territory.

Russia also says it wants legal guarantees over its security from the US and NATO, demanding that the alliance stop further eastward expansion. The West has rejected the demands.

According to reports, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg has decided to convene a meeting of the NATO-Russia Council (NRC) on January 12 in an effort to address the developments in Ukraine.