The presence of the U.S. officers is the latest sign of warming ties between Washington and Belarus, a close Russian ally that allowed Moscow to use its territory to send tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.

A Belarusian court has sentenced independent journalist Ihar Ilyash to four years in prison. On Tuesday, he was convicted on extremism charges for criticizing President Alexander Lukashenko's government.

Putin said the maneuvers were aimed at strengthening the defense of the Union State of Russia and Belarus against "any aggression."

U.S. military officers observed joint war games between Russia and Belarus on Monday for the first time since Moscow used Belarus as a launchpad to enter Ukraine, as U.S. President Donald Trump deepens ties with Moscow's closest ally.

US diplomatic delegations and military representatives have visited Belarus. Russia and Belarus have been staging joint military drills in an apparent message of strength to the West, but the relationship between US President Donald Trump and authoritarian leader Alexander Lukashenko seems to be warming.

Belarusian military exercises Zapad-2025 on Monday 15. Source: European Pravda citing Reuters Details: Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin told the visiting US officers that they could look at "whatever is of interest for you".

The Pentagon on Tuesday confirmed that U.S. military officials observed joint war games between Russia and Belarus on Monday, accepting an invitation for the first time since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.

The Zapad-2025 military drills come just days after Poland accused Moscow of violating its air space with a drone incursion.

Alarms bells sounded this week in Europe after NATO jets scrambled to intercept an unprecedented Russian drone incursion in Poland. Now there is fresh unease on NATO’s eastern flank, as Russia and Belarus kick off major military drills to test the readiness of their armed forces.

Russia and Belarus are rehearsing the launch of Russian tactical nuclear weapons as part of joint war games, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday. State media quoted the Belarusian chief of staff as saying that the exercises also featured Russia's Oreshnik hypersonic missile,