Belarus opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya arrives in Kyiv for first official visit
Leader of the Belarusian opposition Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya (photo: Getty Images)
Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has arrived in Kyiv for the first time, Belarusian opposition outlet Zerkalo reports.
On the morning of May 25, the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, arrived in Kyiv by special train. This is her first visit to Ukraine, made at the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
An entire delegation arrived in Kyiv together with Tsikhanouskaya. It included:
- Advisers Franak Viačorka, Denis Kuchynski, and Anatoly Lebedko;
- Deputy Head and Representative for the Transfer of Power in the United Transitional Cabinet of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Pavel Latushka;
- Chief of Staff at the United Transitional Cabinet, Valery Matskevich;
- Representative of the United Transitional Cabinet for social issues, Olga Zazulinskaya.
The delegation was met at the Kyiv railway station by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Yaroslav Chornohor.
Belarusian opposition leader Tsikhanouskaya in Kyiv (photo: Zerkalo)
What Tsikhanouskaya will do in Ukraine: Visit agenda
Tsikhanouskaya has a busy schedule. She will meet with the Ukrainian leadership and also take part in the International Summit of Cities and Regions.
This is an annual event held as part of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, aimed at attracting international support for the country's reconstruction.
President Zelenskyy invited her to visit Ukraine at the end of January this year, during their first bilateral meeting in Vilnius.
On May 22, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, commenting on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's proposal to meet with Zelenskyy, announced Tsikhanouskaya's upcoming visit. He noted that Kyiv has someone to talk to on all issues concerning Belarus.
The visit comes one day after Russia's massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on the night of May 24.
"Terror is supported by the Lukashenko regime," Tsikhanouskaya said while condemning the strike. She also expressed solidarity with Ukrainians and confidence in their victory.
Updated. Tsikhanouskaya commented on her visit to Kyiv on her X page and shared the first photos.
"I began my visit to Kyiv this morning by going straight from the train station to pay tribute at the grave of Maria Zaitseva. She symbolizes not only our resistance to dictatorship but also Ukrainian-Belarusian solidarity," she wrote.
Maria Zaitseva was a Belarusian activist and public figure who died in Ukraine while repelling the Russian invasion.
"For me, Maria is a symbol of a new generation of Belarusians. People who understand that the freedom of Belarus and the freedom of Ukraine are inseparable," Tsikhanouskaya added.
Tsikhanouskaya insists that Belarus must be mentioned in any peace agreement aimed at ending the war. She stated that without resolving the Belarusian issue, the security of Ukraine and the West would remain under threat.
Tsikhanouskaya also stressed that under Lukashenko, Belarus has effectively turned into a Russian military platform and poses a constant threat to Ukraine.
