Latushka on Sikorski’s Meeting with Ryzhankou: “Nothing About Us Without Us”

Reform.news Editorial Team · 23 September 2026, 18:14

https://reform.news/en/latushka-on-sikorski-s-meeting-with-ryzhankou-nothing-about-us-without-us/

Head of the National Anti-Crisis Management and Deputy Head of the United Transitional Cabinet Pavel Latushka commented on the meeting between Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski and Belarusian Foreign Minister Maksim Ryzhankou. In his view, the meeting gives the Belarusian authorities a “credit” in terms of security, but the country’s future should not be decided without the participation of Belarusians.

“Poland’s meeting with the foreign minister of dictator Lukashenka has now given the regime a huge credit. First and foremost, a credit in terms of security: the security of its borders, domestic security (we remember the regime’s active complicity in hybrid aggression against the EU and Poland), and the security of the Polish minority in Belarus. We have heard a large number of statements and warnings from the Polish authorities that the coming months could be very difficult precisely in terms of security,” the politician said.

According to him, Minsk should use this “credit” to make substantial changes to its policy.

“Whether the regime is sufficiently independent to make use of this credit is an open question. But I think that violating this credit will be the last straw for the regime in the sense that it will put an end to the question of its agency and independence. Whether this snowdrop will bloom depends entirely on this factor,” he said.

The head of NACM also expressed hope that during the meeting, Sikorski raised the issues of ending repression in Belarus and the persecution of Belarusians abroad, deportations to Poland and Aliaksandr Lukashenka‘s “passport decree.”

“The Lukashenka regime has not changed its aggressive and repressive policy to date; it continues to pose a threat both to its neighbors and to Belarusians themselves. Therefore, the credit extended to it requires the regime to make a significant change in this policy, its ability to do so I would currently assess rather critically,” Latushka stressed.

He also noted Russia’s role, saying that the Kremlin is “closely watching” developments in relations between Warsaw and Minsk, and recalled the military agreements between Belarus and Russia.

“For us as Belarusians, the fate of the Belarusian people remains the most important thing, and we would like to believe that it will not be decided behind the backs of Belarusians. As our Polish friends say, ‘Nothing about us without us,’” Latushka said.

The meeting between Sikorski and Ryzhankou in New York was reported today. The Polish minister said the sides discussed the situation at the border and regional security. According to Sikorski, he also raised the issue of ensuring that Belarus does not allow Russian drones and missiles to fly over its territory.

Sikorski described the meeting as an initial introductory meeting. He also said Poland would soon open a new building for its embassy in Minsk. According to the minister, Warsaw is ready to improve relations with its neighbors if conditions for doing so emerge.

Asked about the possible recognition of Aliaksandr Lukashenka by the Polish government, Sikorski said that Poland as a state recognizes states, not governments.

“It’s like a snowdrop that may bloom if the weather is favorable,” he said in response to a question about normalizing relations with Belarus.

Belarus’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the meeting. It said Ryzhankou and Sikorski discussed the state of Belarusian-Polish relations, ways to develop them further and the situation in the region.