Ukrainian foreign minister reveals details of talks with Belarusian opposition leader

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has disclosed details of his talks with Belarusian democratic opposition leader in exile Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, who arrived in Kyiv on 25 May.

Source: Sybiha on X (Twitter), as reported by European Pravda

Details: Sybiha said that he and Tsikhanouskaya had focused on regional security issues and countering the threats posed to Ukraine, Poland and the Baltic states by the regime of self-proclaimed Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko.

The minister stressed that Ukraine envisions "a free, democratic Belarus joining the Lublin Triangle alongside Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania" in the future.

Quote: "There will be no impunity: the Lukashenko regime bears full co-responsibility for the aggression against Ukraine. We discussed joint efforts to gather evidence for the special tribunal in The Hague, as well as holding the regime accountable for crimes against Ukrainian children."

Details: Sybiha added that he has received a new package of sanctions proposals from representatives of the Belarusian opposition which he intends to put forward for consideration by the EU.

Quote: "Our nations are also stepping up cooperation in humanitarian and informational spheres, including joint resistance against Russification and supporting the Belarusian language. As a poignant reminder of our deep-rooted ties, we presented our guests with archival diplomatic documents from the Ukrainian and Belarusian People's Republics."

Details: Sybiha emphasised that these records demonstrate that Ukraine and Belarus had close official ties and human bonds before the Soviet Union existed.

Background:

• On the morning of 25 May, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv on her first official visit, which is due to include a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
• During the visit, Tsikhanouskaya is expected to open a representative office of Belarusian democratic forces in Kyiv and coordinate further steps to counter the Lukashenko regime.
• Sybiha also commented on reports that Ukraine's partners are attempting to persuade it to ease sanctions pressure on Belarus.
• He stressed in particular that Ukraine considers any easing of sanctions against fertiliser producer Belaruskali unacceptable and insists on the need to increase sanctions pressure.

Support Ukrainska Pravda on Patreon!