KYIV (Reuters) – Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko warned on Monday of a joint response with Russia to military exercises involving troops from NATO member countries in neighbouring Ukraine.

Lukashenko didn’t give any details but blamed the West, claiming that the West was responsible for the humanitarian crisis this winter. This happened after hundreds of migrants found themselves stranded at the Belarusian-Polish border.

Ukraine is not part of NATO but long seeks closer integration with Western militaries to the hopes of becoming a member. Belarus, the main ally of Ukraine, has opposed this move.

While Ukraine and the other NATO troops began military exercises last week with Ukraine, Russia and Belarus staged large-scale drills that alarmed the West.

Lukashenko stated that he has had several discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine situation. On Monday, the Kremlin declared that the expansion of NATO’s military infrastructure in Ukraine was a violation of Putin’s rights.

They are actually dragging NATO troops to Ukraine. They are creating bases under the pretense of training centers. They are creating bases in Ukraine for the United States. “It is obvious that we must react to this,” Lukashenko stated at a Minsk meeting with officials from the presidential palace.

“The Russian president has held consultations and is currently holding them on the issue. We have all agreed to take action. Tomorrow, we’ll have an unacceptable situation on the border between Russia and Belarus.

Relations between Belarus and Western countries have been deteriorating since Lukashenko reacted to mass protests after a disputed vote in August 2020. The incident triggered sanctions by the U.S. and European Union as well as British support for Moscow.

Belarus and its EU neighbors have traded accusations over the crisis facing migrants. Minsk was accused of encouraging migrants, mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq, to cross their borders to retaliate for sanctions.

Three of these migrants perished on the Polish border, while another died in Belarus. The fifth reported death was that of an Iraqi citizen who died on the Polish side of border from suspected heart attacks.

Lukashenko claimed that Belarus has treated the migrants very well.

They dressed them well, provided firewood, and shawls. Lukashenko stated that they could freeze during winter.

“It’s a humanitarian crisis at the border.