Moscow Extends Military Exercises With Belarus, Ukrainian Foreign Minister: Russia Must Stop Now

Illustration of Russian military exercises on the border with Ukraine. (Source: Russian Ministry of Defense/Dmitry Shutov)

JAKARTA - Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Sunday said it was time for the West to implement at least some of the sanctions it had prepared against Russia.

"Russia must stop now. We are seeing how things go," Kuleba said.

Foreign Minister Kuleba's remarks came soon after Russia and Belarus announced the extension of military exercises near the Ukrainian border, with Western leaders warning of an imminent Russian invasion as clashes escalated in eastern Ukraine.

"It is time for action. I am officially saying that there are all reasons to apply at least some of the sanctions prepared against Russia, now," Kuleba said at a televised briefing from a security conference in Munich.

As previously reported, Russia and Belarus are extending military exercises due to end on Sunday, Belarus' defense minister said, in a move that further intensifies pressure on Ukraine as Western leaders warn of an imminent Russian invasion.

The decision to extend the exercise was taken due to military activity near the Russian and Belarusian borders and the escalation of the situation in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, Belarus' defense ministry said in a statement.

Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin said the focus of the extended exercise was "to ensure an adequate response and de-escalate military preparations of sympathizers near our common border." The Kremlin did not comment on this.

To note, NATO says Russia has up to 30,000 troops in Belarus and could use them as part of an invasion force to attack Ukraine, which is south of Belarus. Moscow denies any such intention.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said repeated warnings by the West that Russia would invade Ukraine were provocative and could have adverse consequences, without providing details.