(ANSA-AFP) - KIEV, SEP 20 - Ukraine on Monday launched joint
military exercises with the United States and other NATO
countries as tensions with Russia remain high over the
Kremlin-backed insurgency in the country's east. The annual
Rapid Trident military exercises, taking place in western
Ukrainian until October 1, involve some 6,000 soldiers from 15
countries, Ukraine's defence ministry said in a statement. The
head of the exercises, Brigadier General Vladyslav Klochkov,
said the drills were "an important step towards Ukraine's
European integration". "The Ukrainian military, which has been
holding back Russian aggression for eight years, will share its
unique combat experience with its international colleagues," he
added. The drills start a week after Russia and Belarus held
military exercises involving 200,000 personnel, one of their
biggest drills in recent years. (ANSA-AFP).
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