Amid Escalated Tension Over Ukraine, , Russia Deploys More Troops , to Neighboring Belarus.br On January 18, Russian officials said br that additional troops would be deployed br to Belarus for major war games. .br ABC News reports that the deployment further br bolsters Russian military assets near Ukraine amid br concerns by the West of a possible invasion. .br According to Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, the war games are meant to simulate a joint response to external threats by the alliance of Russia and Belarus. .br According to Deputy Defense Minister Alexander Fomin, the war games are meant to simulate a joint response to external threats by the alliance of Russia and Belarus. .br A situation may arise when forces br and means of the regional group of forces br will be insufficient to ensure reliable br security of the union state, and br we must be ready to strengthen it, Alexander Fomin, Russia's Deputy br Defense Minister, via ABC .br A situation may arise when forces br and means of the regional group of forces br will be insufficient to ensure reliable br security of the union state, and br we must be ready to strengthen it, Alexander Fomin, Russia's Deputy br Defense Minister, via ABC .br ABC News reports that Russia and Belarus share br close political, economic and military ties. .br ABC News reports that Russia and Belarus share br close political, economic and military ties. .br Officials in Ukraine have warned that Russia br could launch an attack from multiple directions,br including from neighboring Belarus. .br Officials in Ukraine have warned that Russia br could launch an attack from multiple directions,br including from neighboring Belarus. .br ABC points out that the war games will br dramatically bolster the estimated 100,000 br troops already amassed near Ukraine. .br Russia has reportedly denied having any intention br of invading its former Soviet neighbor. .br However, Russia also demanded guarantees that NATO will not expand to Ukraine or other former Soviet nations or station troops and weapons there. .br Last week, the U.S., along with its allies, firmly rejected Moscow's demands at negotiations in Geneva and a follow-up meeting in Brussels.