Vladimir Putin announces a 36-hour CEASEFIRE with Ukraine
But Belarus claimed the weaponry was being supplied to its forces for defensive purposes.
But its claimed that Putin is pressing Belarus dictator Alexander Lukashenko to play a more active role in the war. The Belarus defence ministry said: "The decision to create a regional grouping of troops on the territory of Belarus was made and is being implemented solely in the interests of strengthening the protection and defence of the Union State, based on the current situation near our borders.
"Personnel, weapons, military and special equipment of the armed forces of the Russian Federation will continue to arrive in the Republic of Belarus.”"Joint training of the Belarusian and Russian components of the regional grouping of troops is complex in nature and covers not only the combat component, but also all supporting systems," the ministry said.
The shock ceasefire comes after Putin blamed his own troops for a Ukraine missile attack in occupied Donbas.
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