Belarus has offered to replace Ukraine in Russia's military equipment supply chain, local media quoted a Russian official as saying.

Minsk has voiced its intent to sell Russia some 1,500 units of military and dual-purpose equipment, Oleg Bochkaryov, deputy head of Russia's Defense Industry Commission, told reporters here during the ongoing MILEX 2014 defense technology expo.

Russia is eager to forge closer ties with the Belarusian defense industry, he stressed, adding that Russia can buy not only components but also finished products from Belarus.

Russia does not intend to sever ties with Ukraine's defense industry, "but such severance may take place," said the official.

In that case, it would take Russia three years to fully replace Ukrainian military equipment suppliers with manufacturers in other countries, he said. Endi

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