Dear President Zelenskyy,
Dear Ukrainians,
Congratulations on Independence Day!
You pay a high price for your independence every single day.
Through your example, you show the world what courage means. And you give hope to other nations that are also fighting for freedom.
Three months ago, I was in Kyiv and saw your strength firsthand. Your country is at war — and it lives. It works. It learns. It builds. It plans for the future.
You have not allowed Russia to take your country away from you.
And this is truly important to us Belarusians. Many people in Belarus today see change in our country as closely linked to Ukraine’s victory. Because we understand that our destinies are intertwined. Ukrainians and Belarusians both want to decide their own future, rather than have it decided for us in Moscow.
And I want you to know: Belarusians are on your side.
Belarusian volunteers are fighting for Ukraine with weapons in their hands.
Belarusian partisans stopped Russian military trains.
Volunteers are saving lives and collecting vehicles, drones, and medical supplies.
The Belarusian diaspora is supporting Ukraine around the world.
Journalists and activists are exposing Russian propaganda and the crimes of the regime.
And in Belarusian prisons, people are still being held for their solidarity with Ukraine and their resistance to Russian aggression.
This is the real Belarus.
Not Lukashenka, who let Russia use our land to attack Ukraine. Not his propaganda or his generals.
It is Belarusians who chose freedom and stood with Ukraine.
We, the democratic forces of Belarus, will do everything in our power to help Ukraine achieve victory. To prevent Belarusians from being drawn into this criminal war. To expose the regime’s complicity in the aggression and collect evidence of its crimes.
This year, we opened the Mission of Democratic Belarus in Kyiv. Ukraine appointed a dedicated ambassador-at-large to work with our democratic forces. These are important steps towards each other.
Because Ukraine’s victory will open an opportunity for change in Belarus as well. And a free Belarus will guarantee that the threat from the north will never again reach Ukrainian soil.
Dear Ukrainians,
I wish you victory. Just peace. The return of all prisoners and abducted children. The return of your people home.
And I wish that you will celebrate future Independence Days under peaceful skies.
Happy Independence Day!
Glory to Ukraine!
Long Live Belarus!
