Zapad drills present scripted, “best-case” scenarios of Russian and Belarusian capabilities that have rarely translated into actual combat performance. Instead, European governments should treat Zapad 2025 primarily as political theatre. Exercise planHistorically, the Zapad drills have shown Russian and Belarusian (Union State) military posture in the European operational direction, assessed force readiness, and demonstrated technological and doctrinal developments in both armies. Importantly, Zapad 2025 is a central element of a wider set of exercises held in Belarus and Russia in 2025. A nuanced understanding of how Minsk and Moscow blend military drills with diplomatic signalling will help clarify Putin’s and Lukashenko’s intentions and enable a more coherent Western response.