MINSK. May 25 (Interfax) - By providing military assistance to Ukraine, Western countries are dragging out the armed conflict and are doing everything possible to escalate it, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said.
"Everything possible is being done to drag out and escalate the armed conflict in Ukraine, which is receiving military support of all kinds," Shoigu said at a meeting with Belarusian Defense Minister Viktor Khrenin in Minsk on Thursday.
Opening the talks, Shoigu said that meetings with his counterpart "have become regular recently."
"This is particularly important amid the rapid growth of tensions, the demolition of the strategic stability foundations and the unprecedented strengthening of international confrontation. Belarus has been and remains our staunch ally and reliable partner," Shoigu said.