A delegation of the democratic forces of Belarus, led by Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, met in Kyiv with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha.
The meeting lasted more than two and a half hours. The sides discussed further cooperation between Ukraine and the democratic forces of Belarus, issues facing Belarusians in Ukraine, and cooperation in culture, information policy, and diplomacy.
Key outcomes are as follows:
- Ambassador-at-Large Yaroslav Chornohor was appointed to coordinate cooperation with the democratic forces of Belarus.
- A coordination group on issues concerning Belarusians in Ukraine is being prepared, including matters related to legal stay, migration, and other challenges faced by Belarusians in Ukraine.
- Several sanctions proposals targeting regime-linked enterprises and individuals were submitted. Ukraine will raise the issue of Belarus at the EU Foreign Affairs Council. Ukraine will also consider sanctions against the “Union State”.
- The democratic forces will join the international coalition for the return of Ukrainian children.
- The sides agreed to cooperate in countering Russification and to support Belarusian–Ukrainian cultural and educational initiatives, as well as create conditions for the development of Belarusian student communities in Ukraine.
- Sviatlana Shatilina was officially introduced to Minister Sybiha as the Head of the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Kyiv.
- Proposals were submitted on holding the Lukashenka regime accountable for international crimes, including the crime of aggression against Ukraine, the forcible displacement of children, and crimes against humanity.
- The sides agreed to counter Russian disinformation and propaganda and make efforts to prevent Belarus from being drawn further into the war.
The Belarusian delegation was also shown a number of historical documents containing official correspondence between the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Belarusian Democratic Republic in 1918–1919.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I am glad that our relations are reaching a new level — this is a clear signal that Ukraine distinguishes between Belarus and Russia, between the Belarusian people and the regime. We will cooperate with Ukraine in a number of areas to renew friendly relations between our nations and to confront the criminal regimes in Minsk and Moscow”.
The Belarusian delegation included Pavel Latushka of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus; Sviatlana Shatsilina of the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Ukraine; and Franak Viacorka, Dzianis Kuchynski, and Anatoli Liabedzka of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Office.
