Russia and Belarus have completed two days of joint military exercises. More than 12-thousand soldiers took part in the West-2009 exercises in Russia's westernmost Kalin-ingrad region and in southern Belarus.

The exercises involved aircraft, armored divisions and other heavy weapons. Russian President Dmitry Medvedev attended the drills with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko.

The two leaders have agreed to hold such military exercises every two years and Medvedev says it's strictly about defense.

Dmitry Medvedev, Russian President, said, "We are developing a defense component (of Russia-Belarus relations) and are trying to create a strong base for the defense of our national interests."

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