Russia, Belarus Launch Smaller Zapad-2025 Drills Amid Heightened NATO Tensions

The Zapad-2025 joint military exercises between Russia and Belarus, which began on September 12, have drawn significant concern from Ukraine, NATO members, and European countries due to their scale and proximity to NATO borders. Ukraine reports a smaller Russian troop presence in Belarus compared to 2023 but continues to monitor the situation closely, emphasizing the exercises are not defensive and may be directed against Ukraine and others in Europe. NATO members Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia have increased security measures, with Poland closing its border with Belarus and imposing a no-fly zone following recent Russian drone incursions into its airspace, which some analysts view as a Kremlin test of NATO's air defenses before the drills. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk described the exercises as aggressive and warned of heightened risks of conflict, while Belarusian officials claimed the drills are smaller and conducted deeper within Belarus to signal de-escalation. The Kremlin insists the exercises aim to improve military cooperation and are not targeted at any specific country, but tensions remain elevated amid ongoing Russian attacks in Ukraine and regional security concerns. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted the need for strong international pressure to counter Russia's capacity for sustained aggression.