Belarus and Russia are to continue holding joint military exercises, meaning that Russian troops will not be withdrawn from the country as previously announced, Belarusian Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin said, amid growing fears of an invasion. The drills had been due to end on Sunday. The decision to prolong them further intensifies pressure on Ukraine as Western leaders and the NATO military alliance warn of an imminent full-scale invasion of Ukraine by Russia. Khrenin said the troops would remain in Belarus due to rising tensions in Ukraine’s disputed Donbass region and “in connection with …