Belarusian officials insist that the joint strategic exercise Zapad-2025 of the Regional Troops Grouping (RTG) of Belarus and Russia poses no threat to neighboring states, has limited parameters, and is purely defensive in nature. The Belarusian authorities present the scaling back of strategic maneuvers—from what was initially planned as the largest exercise in the history of RTG—to a minimum troop participation level as a de-escalatory step and a demonstration of commitment to arms control obligations and confidence-building measures. In practice, Russia has simply been unable to generate the necessary troop grouping for a new large-scale offensive against Ukraine from Belarusian territory this time. This current shift in Russia’s priorities, however, does not signify an abandonment of plans to prepare for a new large-scale offensive from Belarusian territory in the future.
Russia and Belarus Decrease Parameters of Zapad-2025 Joint Military Exercise – Jamestown
