Ukraine's foreign minister says Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will visit Ukraine soon

Serhiy Sydorenko, Anastasia Protz — 22 May, 16:13
Ukraine's foreign minister says Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya will visit Ukraine soon
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. Photo: Tsikhanouskaya on Telegram

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has said Ukraine is expecting a visit by Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya.

Source: a European Pravda correspondent, citing Sybiha speaking at an online conference on his way back from the NATO ministerial meeting

Details: Sybiha commented on recent statements by self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, whom Ukraine continues to regard as an accomplice to the crime of aggression against Ukraine and whose punishment it continues to demand.

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The minister called Lukashenko's public proposal for a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a "very strange statement" and made clear that Kyiv has no such interest.

Quote from Sybiha: "We expect Tsikhanouskaya in Ukraine in the near future, so we have someone to talk to on all issues related to Belarus."

More details: Tsikhanouskaya's visit had not previously been announced. European Pravda learned that it may take place next week.

Commenting on Ukraine's plans regarding Belarus, Sybiha pointed out that he considers the historical goals of Ukraine and Belarus to be connected.

Quote from Sybiha: "We must help Belarus become a European colleague, because Belarus is also Europe."

Background:

  • Last week, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine appointed an official responsible for contacts with the Belarusian opposition. Before that, Sybiha met the leader of the Belarusian opposition.
  • Preparations for Tsikhanouskaya's visit to Kyiv have been under way since early spring. She intends to open a mission of the Belarusian democratic forces in Kyiv soon.

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Belarus Tsikhanouskaya Sybiha Andrii
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