First Deputy Defense Minister of Ukraine Ivan Rusnak has said that the preparation of the Russian Federation for holding the West 2017 large-scale military exercises causes concern around the world.

Rusnak said this during a meeting with Poland's Deputy Defense Minister Michal Dworczyk on Tuesday, the press service of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry reported.

"Preparations of the Russian Federation to hold the West 2017 large-scale military exercises cause concern throughout the world," Rusnak said.

He also briefed his Polish counterpart about the situation in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Luhansk and Donetsk regions, noting "the non-compliance by the Russian-occupation forces to the Minsk Agreements."

In addition, on behalf of Ukrainian Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak, Rusnak thanked his Polish counterparts for their assistance.

As reported, the West 2017 Russian-Belarusian strategic maneuvers will be held simultaneously at several training grounds of the two countries. Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said that despite any pressure, the Belarusian-Russian exercise West 2017 will be held on a large scale.