MINSK, October 22. /TASS/. The West’s aggressive activity towards Russia and Belarus is growing and NATO, the European Union (EU) and the Kiev regime deliberately choose the path of escalation, Russia’s Defense Minister Andrey Belousov said at a joint board meeting of the Russian and Belarusian Defense Ministries.

"Today the military-political situation around our countries remains difficult. We see the rapid growth of tension and the West’s aggressive activity towards Russia and Belarus. NATO, the EU and the Kiev regime deliberately move along the path of escalation," the Russian defense minister pointed out.

"The accelerated militarization of Europe, which is placing its industry on a wartime footing and preparing infrastructure for the rapid deployment of the armed forces poses a particular danger," Belousov stressed.