Kyzym Calls Zelenskyy–Tsikhanouskaya Meeting a Window of Opportunity for Belarusian Democratic Forces

Former Ukrainian ambassador to Belarus and former ambassador-at-large on Belarus issues Ihor Kyzym commented on the first full-fledged meeting between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, which took place over the weekend. According to him, this was bound to happen if Ukraine claims subjectivity in the region. At the same time, he expressed regret that it happened so late.

“For those involved in Ukrainian-Belarusian issues, this meeting, as well as the statements by the President of Ukraine in Vilnius regarding Belarus, is a long-awaited and comprehensive definition of the Ukrainian authorities’ attitude toward the ‘Belarusian case.’ But I would like to repeat one of my comments… It is a pity for the lost time. From the very beginning it was obvious that this had to happen if Ukraine wants to be a subject at least at the regional level. Perhaps this is connected with changes in the Presidential Office. But what matters now is not that (this will become clear very soon), but that the Belarusian democratic forces make the best possible use of this newly opened ‘window of opportunity’ for the Belarusian democratic movement as a whole. Glory to Ukraine! Zhyve Belarus!” he wrote on Facebook.