Putin says Russia will use 'all means' to protect Belarus from attack

Russian President Vladimir Putin warned on Friday that Moscow will use any means at its disposal to protect ally Belarus against possible attacks.

"As far as Belarus is concerned, it is part of the Union State, unleashing aggression against Belarus will mean aggression against the Russian Federation," he said at a meeting of the Kremlin's Security Council. "We will respond to this with all the means at our disposal."