France, Sept. 11 -- Russia and Belarus are set to stage a massive military exercise in mid-September and with the war in Ukraine still raging, the move has raised concern across Europe. Germany has issued military warnings, while France is quietly preparing its hospitals for the possibility of a wider conflict.

The five-day Zapad 2025 manoeuvres begin on Friday across Belarusian territory. They are officially described as defensive drills to safeguard the Russia-BelarusUnion State.

Belarus insists the exercises are routine and preventative. Defence official Valery Revenko said Zapad 2025 is designed to "check the readiness of both states to repel potential aggression" and stressed that Minsk is pursuing "a peaceful policy".

But NATO co...