Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya: “I began my participation in the European Political Community Summit in Dublin with a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
I conveyed words of solidarity and support from the Belarusian people. We stand with Ukraine and the Ukrainian people. Today, more than ever, we need to strengthen support for Ukraine to stop Russian aggression and achieve a just and lasting peace.
The fates of Belarus and Ukraine are inseparably linked. The outcome of this war will also determine the future of our country. Peace must be on Ukraine’s terms, with reliable security guarantees to prevent Russia from attacking again.
The issue of Belarus must be part of negotiations on lasting peace. We must not allow Belarus to remain under Russian control or become a consolation prize for Putin. Russian troops must leave Belarus, and our country’s genuine independence and sovereignty must be restored. Without this, there can be no lasting security for Ukraine or the region as a whole.
We discussed the role of the Lukashenka regime in Russia’s aggression and agreed that the Belarusian army must be prevented from being drawn into the war. The Lukashenka regime bears full responsibility for its crimes and its support for Russian aggression. International pressure on the regime, including sanctions, must therefore continue.
We also discussed support for Belarusians in Ukraine, including addressing issues related to legal documents and status.
We want to see Ukraine strong, independent, and at peace, and Belarus free and democratic. Our nations deserve a secure European future”.
