The Belarusian Defense Ministry announced, coinciding with the start of NATO "nuclear deterrence" exercises in the North Sea, Belgium and the United Kingdom, that Russian

President Vladimir Putin is preparing to send 9 thousand soldiers to Belarus, within the framework of the agreement between Moscow and Minsk on the deployment of joint military forces on the western borders of Belarus, and that the vanguards of those forces have begun to arrive.

The Kremlin said the decision to send troops to Belarus was "part of a defensive operation", while the Russian Defense Ministry said the move was "dictated by the ongoing activity in our neighboring regions".

In this context, observers and military experts warn that Russia and NATO "have already become closer than ever to a direct military clash," warning of the consequences of the military build-up and reciprocal maneuvers that are taking place.

NATO began "routine" military exercises on Monday to test its nuclear deterrent system in Europe.

NATO exercises involve 14 out of 30 NATO member states

The exercises will involve about 60 aircraft, including fighter jets, surveillance and refueling aircraft.

In addition to the US long-range B-52 bombers, dubbed "steadfast noon", fighters capable of carrying nuclear warheads are also participating in the maneuvers, but they do not include any live bombs

"The Russian military force, which is being deployed successively in Belarus, is primarily defensive and deterrent, and is pre-emptive of any aggressive move by NATO against Russia and its ally Belarus,"says Timur Dwidar, a Russian expert on international relations.

"It should not be ruled out that the Russian military presence on Belarusian territory may also be connected with Moscow's own calculations and tactics in the Ukrainian field," he said.

"We are at a dangerous crossroads and all possibilities are open, and although Moscow calls for peace and dialogue, the Atlantic bloc, unfortunately, insists on escalating and prolonging the war in Ukraine, especially by supporting Kiev with various forms of military aid and weapons,"he said.