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Moscow, Minsk reiterate deep concern over NATO expansion — Lavrov

The foreign ministers also shared the opinion that the West had turned Ukraine into a "foothold for subversive activities against the Union State"

MINSK, January 19. /TASS/. Russia and Belarus have once again expressed their concern over the destructive US policy towards NATO expansion and the Alliance's military infrastructure getting closer to their borders, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told a news conference following a joint meeting of the Russian and Belarusian foreign ministries' boards on Thursday.

"We once again expressed deep concern about the destructive course of the United States and its satellites towards NATO expansion, the approach of the Alliance's military forces and military infrastructure to our common borders, which leads to an escalation of military and political tension which cannot continue without a reaction from our side," the minister said.

The foreign ministers also shared the opinion that the West had turned Ukraine into a "foothold for subversive activities against the Union State." "We see eye-to-eye that the so-called collective West has actually turned Ukraine into a foothold for further military and political development of the post-Soviet space, a foothold for subversive activities against the Union State, and is directly pushing Kiev towards creating direct threats to the vital interests of Russia and Belarus," the Russian top diplomat stressed.

According to Lavrov, the strengthening of the joint regional group of troops on the territory of the republic, which began in October 2022 by decision of the presidents, is part of the response from Russia and Belarus.

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Foreign policy Sergey Lavrov Belarus

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