The Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Andriy Sybiga declined the proposal from Alexander Lukashenko to hold a meeting on Ukrainian territory. Sybiga stated this during a conversation with journalists, emphasizing the lack of official diplomatic contacts with the Belarusian side.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Ukraine expects the visit of Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya
The head of Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stressed that no diplomatic proposals had been received from Belarus, and Lukashenko’s recent statement about his readiness to visit Kyiv is, in his opinion, strange. Instead, Ukraine is preparing for the visit of the leader of the Belarusian opposition, Sviatlana Tikhanovskaya, to discuss current issues in bilateral relations. Sybiga emphasized that it is with Tikhanovskaya that Ukraine intends to discuss the full range of cooperation and security issues.
“There have been no official diplomatic contacts with the Belarusian side. Recently, we saw a strange statement from Lukashenko that he is ready to meet and come to Kyiv. The Ukrainian side has someone to meet with. In the near future, we expect the leader of the Belarusian opposition (Sviatlana) Tikhanovskaya to visit Ukraine. Therefore, we have someone to talk to about the full range of issues.”
The threat from Belarus and Ukraine’s response
In response to a question about possible aggression from Belarus, Sybiga confirmed that Ukraine will always act proportionately in accordance with Article 51 of the UN Charter, which guarantees the right to self-defense. According to the minister, all of Ukraine’s actions will mirror the threats.
During a NATO allies meeting in Helsingborg, Sweden, Sybiga informed partners about the assessment of threats from Belarus, emphasizing that intelligence data indicates a real danger of escalation. He also pointed out the joint nuclear exercises of Russia and Belarus, which, in his opinion, are an element of nuclear blackmail aimed at intimidating European partners.
In mid-May, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported that Kyiv is observing attempts by Moscow to draw Belarus deeper into the war against Ukraine. Zelensky noted that Ukraine possesses details of negotiations between Russia and Belarus on this issue.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, Oleksandr Syrskyi, also expressed concern, stating that operations in the northern part of the country are quite real. At the same time, Alexander Lukashenko publicly assured that Minsk would not be drawn into Russia’s war against Ukraine unless there is a threat to Belarus.
Despite such statements, Lukashenko’s regime continues military exercises amid escalating relations with the West and the ongoing full-scale war. Belarus is officially not participating in hostilities; however, in February 2022, it allowed the use of its territory for the movement and deployment of Russian troops, as well as for launching missile strikes on Ukraine.
During the meeting in Helsingborg, Latvian Foreign Minister Baiba Braže supported Ukraine’s right to strike Russian territory in response to aggression. At the same time, Russia accused Latvia of allegedly allowing drones to be launched from its territory.