Zelenskyy meets Belarusian opposition leader in exile Tsikhanouskaya

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, the Belarusian opposition leader in exile.

During the meeting in Kyiv on Tuesday 26 May, Zelenskyy and Tsikhanouskaya discussed the Belarusian people's desire to free themselves from Russian interference and Russia's attempts to further drag Belarus into the war against Ukraine.

"We value every expression of support from Belarusians for a free Ukraine, and we know that the day will come when there will once again be good-neighbourly relations between our states – based on the real independence of both Ukraine and Belarus from Moscow," Zelenskyy said.

He stressed that Ukraine has never posed a threat to Belarus.

Earlier, Tsikhanouskaya's team said her visit to Kyiv will focus on opening a representative office for Belarusian democratic forces in the Ukrainian capital and coordinating efforts against the Lukashenko regime.

The team also said the sides will discuss cooperation between Belarusian democratic forces and Ukraine, as well as support for Belarusian volunteers fighting for Ukraine and for their families.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said following his meeting with Tsikhanouskaya that Ukraine opposes the easing of sanctions against Belarusian fertiliser producer Belaruskali.