MOSCOW

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday that the upcoming Russian-Belarusian exercises, Zapad-2025, scheduled for Sept. 12-16, are proceeding as planned and are not directed against any nation.

“The exercises will indeed take place. These are planned exercises. They are not directed against someone. It’s about continuing military cooperation and working out interaction between two strategic allies,” Peskov said at a press briefing in Moscow.

He emphasized that Russia remains committed to enhancing military coordination with Belarus, adding: “It is absolutely no secret to anyone; everyone knows well. And once again I repeat, all these actions do not have direction against some third countries.”

The Zapad-2025 exercises, set to start on Belarusian territory this Friday, will focus on safeguarding the military security of the Russia-Belarus alliance, known as the Union State.

According to the defense ministries of Russia and Belarus, activities will include repelling air strikes, countering sabotage groups, planning the use of nuclear weapons, and operating the new Russian Oreshnik medium-range ballistic missile system.

Meanwhile, Poland and NATO are conducting their own division-level exercises, Iron Defender, involving some 34,000 troops and 600 equipment units.

The Russian-Belarusian exercises will begin just two days after Tusk accused Russia of violating Polish airspace with what he called “Russian drones,” prompting Warsaw to convene a NATO consultation meeting.

When asked about the incident, Peskov referred to the Russian Defense Ministry’s statement denying any targeting of Poland and its offer to talk with Polish officials to lower tensions.

Regarding Poland's criticism, Peskov remarked: "The rhetoric of statements coming out of Warsaw is nothing new. This type of rhetoric has recently become common in nearly all European capitals. We see its continuation."

Regarding whether presidents Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump might address the incident via phone call, Peskov said no such plans are currently in place, but that "if necessary, it can be quickly arranged."