Zelenskyy meets with Belarusian oppositionist Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya during the international summit of cities and regions, “Partnership. Resilience. Readiness,” in Kyiv. Zelenskyy announced this on his Telegram channel, the Ukrainian News agency reports.

Zelenskyy noted that the summit in Kyiv brought together 24 countries, primarily European nations, including representatives from Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Moldova, Romania, and Belarus.

He emphasized that Ukraine supports the Belarusian people’s desire to free themselves from russian interference at a time when russia is attempting to drag Belarus even further into the war against Ukraine.

"And we appreciate every expression of support from Belarusians for a free Ukraine, and we know that the day will come when our countries will once again have good-neighborly relations based on the genuine independence of both Ukraine and Belarus from Moscow. Today, this is exactly what we discussed with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and her team, who are visiting Kyiv," he said.

Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine has never been a threat to Belarus and is grateful to those Belarusians who stand with Ukraine now, as the fate of Ukraine’s independence—and the independence of every nation bordering russia—is being decided.

During his address to the summit participants, Zelenskyy noted that Belarus is participating in this format for the first time.

"Recently, Lukashenko said that it was time for the presidents of Ukraine and Belarus to meet. It turned out so interestingly: Lukashenko said it, but Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived. I’m glad to see you, Sviatlana," he said.

As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, Belarusian opposition politician Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived in Kyiv on May 25. Earlier, Tsikhanouskaya called on the Belarusian army to expel russians from the country and close the border with russia.

In May, Belarus’s self-proclaimed president, Aleksandr Lukashenko, stated that he was open to dialogue with Ukraine and ready to meet with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss issues in relations between the two countries.