On May 25, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the leader of the Belarusian opposition, arrived in Kyiv via a special train. This marks her first visit to Ukraine, following an invitation from President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Accompanying Tsikhanouskaya was a delegation that included several key advisors: Franak Viachorka, Denis Kuchynski, and Anatoliy Lebedko; Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushko; Chief of Staff Valeriy Matskevich; and Social Affairs Representative Olga Zazulinska.
The delegation was welcomed at the Kyiv railway station by Yaroslav Chornogor, a special envoy from the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
During her visit, Tsikhanouskaya is set to engage with Ukrainian leadership and participate in the International Summit of Cities and Regions. This annual event is part of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, aimed at garnering international support for the country’s reconstruction.
The invitation for Tsikhanouskaya to visit Ukraine was extended by President Zelensky during their first bilateral meeting in Vilnius at the end of January.
On May 22, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha commented on a proposal from Belarusian dictator Alexander Lukashenko to meet with Zelensky, hinting at Tsikhanouskaya’s imminent arrival. He stated that Kyiv has relevant discussions to hold regarding Belarus.
This visit comes just a day after a large-scale missile and drone attack by Russia on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on May 24.
Tsikhanouskaya condemned the attack, attributing it to the support of Lukashenko’s regime. She expressed solidarity with the Ukrainian people and confidence in their eventual victory.
In an update on her social media, Tsikhanouskaya shared her first impressions of Kyiv, stating, “This morning, I began my visit to Kyiv directly from the station to honor the memory of Maria Zaitseva. She symbolizes not only our resistance to dictatorship but also the Belarusian-Ukrainian solidarity.”
Maria Zaitseva was a Belarusian activist who lost her life in Ukraine while defending against the Russian invasion.
Tsikhanouskaya added, “For me, Maria represents a new generation of Belarusians. People who understand that the freedom of Belarus and the freedom of Ukraine are inseparable.”
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's visit to Kyiv marks a significant moment for Belarusian-Ukrainian relations, as she engages with Ukrainian leaders and addresses the ongoing conflict. Her arrival follows a recent Russian attack, underscoring the urgency of solidarity between the two nations.