Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga announced a new systematic approach to relations with the democratic opposition in Belarus. He also announced the appointment of a special representative authorized to contact opponents of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko.
He told this in an interview with “European Truth”.
According to the minister, in the opinion of the Ukrainian authorities, “the Belarusian track requires a separate systemic policy,” because it is important for Kyiv.
“I will draw your attention to the speech of the President of Ukraine in Vilnius: almost a third of the speech was devoted to the Belarusian issue. And it is really important for us to maintain relations with representatives of democratic Belarus,” he said.
Sybiga expressed hope that over time, “democratic” Belarus “will become the fourth participant in the Lublin Triangle — a trilateral platform for political, economic, and security cooperation between Ukraine, Poland, and Lithuania, founded on July 28, 2020.
According to him, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed him to appoint a special representative for Belarus.
“I will submit a candidacy for consideration in the near future. We are still determining the name of this position, but it will be an official authorized for contacts with democratic Belarusian forces,” the Foreign Minister added.
When asked what “status” official Kyiv determines for Svitlana Tikhanovskaya, who left Belarus after the 2020 presidential election, Sybiga replied that she is one of the leaders of democratic Belarusian forces.
“That's why you saw her meeting with President Zelensky. By the way, the conversation was very substantive and will have further development. And regarding Belarus, I will also remind you of the Kastus Kalinovsky regiment, which is fighting as part of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and we really appreciate it,” the minister summed up.
On January 26, President Zelensky and Tikhanovskaya held their first official meeting in Vilnius, during which they discussed sanctions against the current government in Belarus and support for political prisoners.
In February 2025, Ambassador at Large for Belarus of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Ihor Kyzym resigned from the diplomatic service.