<p>Russia and Belarus launched joint military drills Thursday that had raised concerns in Western countries with fears that Moscow is plotting a major escalation in the conflict in Ukraine.</p>.<p>Russia's defence ministry said in a statement that the exercises scheduled to continue until February 20 in Belarus had begun and would centre around "suppressing and repelling external aggression".</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>
<p>Russia and Belarus launched joint military drills Thursday that had raised concerns in Western countries with fears that Moscow is plotting a major escalation in the conflict in Ukraine.</p>.<p>Russia's defence ministry said in a statement that the exercises scheduled to continue until February 20 in Belarus had begun and would centre around "suppressing and repelling external aggression".</p>.<p><strong>Check out latest videos from <i data-stringify-type="italic">DH</i>:</strong></p>