Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko has called on citizens to prepare for World War III "both mentally and strategically." He made this statement during a meeting with the leadership of state organs responsible for national security, as reported by the BelTA news agency.
"We do not want war, but we must be ready for it both mentally and strategically. As for realizing the seriousness of the moment. Let's discard any illusions about the possibility of a diplomatic resolution to the global conflict. International law is also powerless to ease tensions," he said.
Lukashenko noted the trend of NATO expansion, the threat from the "collective West," and added that Belarus is "in the epicenter of a prolonged major military-political crisis."
Previously, Lukashenko stated that around 32,000 military personnel from NATO and the US joint armed forces, "more than a thousand units of armored vehicles, about 160 artillery systems and mortars, 235 aircraft and helicopters" were positioned near the borders of Belarus and Russia as part of NATO operations conducted in Europe.
In late January, NATO began the Steadfast Defender exercises in the territory of the Baltic states, Poland, and Germany.
The maneuvers will involve about 90,000 military personnel, around 50 warships, 80 aircraft, and more than a thousand units of ground equipment, including 133 tanks. During the exercises, troops are expected to surround the Kaliningrad region.
