MINSK. Feb 16 (Interfax) - Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko told foreign journalists that the Belarusian Armed Forces could grow from 75,000 to 500,000 people in case of war.
"The Belarusian army has 75,000 troops only during peace time. However, its size may grow to 500,000 in several stages if necessary in war conditions," the Belarusian state-run news agency BelTA quoted Lukashenko as saying.
"Nobody needs a war. Let us agree on peace as long as this aggression is not expanding," he said.
Lukashenko added that the West and Ukraine are not ready for that. "You are not just not ready. The beginning of peace talks would have been a horrible tragedy and catastrophe for you. You need war," he said.