President Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about his meeting with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya on Tuesday, May 26, during the IV International Summit of Cities and Regions in Kyiv.
The summit brought together representatives from 24 countries, mainly European states, including all of Ukraine’s neighbors such as Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Belarus.
“For the first time in our format, there are representatives from Belarus. And recently Lukashenko said that it is time for the presidents of Ukraine and Belarus to meet. It turned out interestingly: Lukashenko said it, and Svitlana Tsikhanouskaya came,” Zelensky said.
He added that participants of the summit support the aspirations of the Belarusian people to free themselves from Russian influence.
“We know that Russia is now trying to drag Belarus even further into this war against Ukraine. And we appreciate every manifestation of support from Belarusians for a free Ukraine. We know that there will be a day when our states will once again have good-neighborly relations based on the real independence of both Ukraine and Belarus from Moscow,” he said.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has never posed a threat to Belarus and expressed gratitude to the Belarusians who support Ukraine during the war
“Ukraine has never been a threat to Belarus. And we are grateful to those Belarusians who are with Ukraine now, when the fate of both our independence and the independence of every people bordering Russia is being decided,” he said.
Zelensky also said he discussed these issues directly with Tsikhanouskaya and her delegation during their visit to Kyiv.
Tsikhanouskaya, speaking to Euronews Europe Today, said that no one can influence Belarusian leader Olexandr Lukashenko except Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
“He will fulfill all the orders of Putin, but he’s doing this against the will of the Belarusian people,” she said.
Her comments came after reports that French President Emmanuel Macron held a rare phone call with Lukashenko on Sunday, reportedly warning him against escalating Belarus’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Tsikhanouskaya said such diplomatic efforts would not change the situation.
“Lukashenko is serving Russia’s interests, not the interests of the Belarusian people. He’s ready to betray our sovereignty, our independence, just to stay in power. So please don’t think that Lukashenko can be split,” she said.
Speaking from Kyiv, she added that separating Lukashenko from Putin is unrealistic.
“Lukashenko and Putin have a symbiotic friendship, they support each other, they use each other. And of course, it’s an illusion that they can be split.”
On May 25, Tsikhanouskaya began her first official visit to Kyiv.
During talks with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, the sides agreed on what was described as a new framework for cooperation between Ukraine and Belarus’s democratic forces.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry also announced the appointment of ambassador-at-large Yaroslav Chornohor, who will be responsible for engagement with Belarus’s democratic movement and for establishing a permanent cooperation mechanism.
“On our part, we are taking a step forward – an ambassador-at-large, Yaroslav Chornohor, has been appointed within the structure of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, specifically to establish effective cooperation with Belarusian democratic forces,” Sybiha said.
Tsikhanouskaya welcomed the decision, saying Belarusians had long awaited such a step and stressing the importance of viewing a free Belarus as a future partner rather than a threat.
“It is very important for us that Ukraine sees a future partner and neighbor in a free Belarus, rather than a threat. Only a free, democratic Belarus will become a factor of stability and security in the region, rather than an instrument of the Kremlin’s aggressive policy,” Tsikhanouskaya said, calling for deeper ties between societies, experts, and institutions.
Sybiha, for his part, stressed that Ukraine clearly distinguishes between Lukashenko’s regime, which he said has enabled Russia’s war, and the Belarusian people.
He noted that thousands of Belarusians have been imprisoned or forced into exile due to repression, while praising Belarusian volunteers, journalists, and activists for supporting Ukraine.
Sybiha also said more than 90 Belarusians have died fighting alongside Ukrainian forces against Russia.
The sides also outlined future cooperation plans, including Ukraine’s invitation for a democratic Belarus to join the Lublin Triangle with Poland and Lithuania, joint work on documenting Lukashenko’s alleged involvement in the crime of aggression and deportation of Ukrainian children, and the expansion of coordinated sanctions proposals for EU consideration.