In Warsaw, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Andrii Sybiha. The meeting was also attended by the Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet of Belarus, Pavel Latushka, as well as Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya’s Chief Advisor, Franak Viacorka, and Diplomatic Advisor, Dzianis Kuchynski.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people as Russian missile and drone attacks continue to claim civilian lives and destroy cities. She praised the courage of Ukraine’s defenders and the country’s successes in resisting Russian aggression.
She thanked Ukraine for supporting Belarusian volunteer fighters, including the new Belarusian drone unit Volia, which helps defend Ukraine. Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also welcomed legislative proposals put forward by Ukraine’s State Migration Service to help foreign nationals, including Belarusians, regularize their stay in the country even if their documents have expired.
Ms. Tsikhanouskaya highlighted the work of Ukraine’s Ambassador-at-Large for Belarus, Iaroslav Chornogor, and thanked Ukraine for supporting the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Kyiv. The parties discussed ways to strengthen the Mission’s status and expand its cooperation with Ukrainian state institutions to address practical issues facing Belarusians in Ukraine.
The meeting covered:
- security and the Russian threat — the growing Russian military presence in Belarus and the use of Belarusian infrastructure to facilitate aggression against Ukraine. The Belarusian delegation presented information and materials from BELPOL and outlined a campaign to counter the recruitment of Belarusians into the Russian army;
- sanctions — policy coordination between Ukraine, the EU, and Belarus’s democratic forces. The sides discussed further pressure on the Lukashenka regime and new sanctions proposals targeting businesses and individuals that facilitate Russian aggression;
- accountability — joint efforts to document crimes committed by the Lukashenka regime, including its complicity in Russia’s aggression against Ukraine and the displacement of Ukrainian children. The parties also discussed support for international justice mechanisms, including Lithuania’s referral of the Lukashenka regime’s crimes to the International Criminal Court;
- international cooperation and possible joint Belarus–Ukraine events at international forums.
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “Ukraine is fighting not only for its own freedom but also for the security of all Europe. Belarusians stand with Ukraine: our volunteers are fighting on the front lines, our volunteers are providing assistance, and Belarus’s democratic forces are working to stop Russia from using our country to wage its aggression.
We want cooperation between Ukraine and a democratic Belarus to be ongoing and systematic. A free Belarus, independent of Russia, is not only our goal but also a strategic interest for Ukraine.
We believe in Ukraine’s victory and in a future in which our countries will be good neighbors, reliable partners, and part of a united European family”.
