Zelenskyy gave a veiled response to Lukashenko's proposal to meet and mentioned Tsikhanouskaya
Kyiv • UNN
Zelenskyy hinted at Lukashenko's illegitimacy due to Tsikhanouskaya's participation in the international summit. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs plans to discuss relations specifically with her.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy hinted at the illegitimacy of Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko. The head of state touched upon this topic while speaking on May 26 at the IV International Summit of Cities and Regions, UNN reports.
Details
Initially, Zelenskyy drew the attendees' attention to the fact that representatives from Poland, France, Austria, Romania, Norway, Germany, Portugal, Italy, Latvia, Estonia, Lithuania, Hungary, Sweden, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, and other countries were present at the summit.
He then emphasized that for the first time in this format, a representative of Belarus was attending the event. Here, Zelenskyy recalled the recent words of Alexander Lukashenko regarding a possible meeting between the presidents of Ukraine and Belarus.
"It turned out interestingly: Lukashenko spoke, but Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya arrived,"
Context
A few days ago, the self-proclaimed president of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, against the backdrop of joint exercises with the Russian Federation, made a statement claiming that official Minsk would allegedly not get involved in the war between Russia and Ukraine.
"We are not going to get involved in the war in Ukraine. There is no need for this. Neither civil nor military,"
In addition, he hinted that he was ready for a personal meeting with the Ukrainian leader.
"If President Zelenskyy wants to talk about something, consult, or anything else, please, we are open to it. At any point in Ukraine or Belarus, I am ready to meet with him and perhaps talk about prospects,"
The Ukrainian side did not leave this remark by the self-proclaimed president of Belarus unnoticed. Minister of Foreign Affairs Andrii Sybiha said that the Ukrainian side has someone to discuss the situation in the neighboring country with, even without Lukashenko, who supports Putin's aggressive policy.
"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, and in the near future, we expect a visit from Tsikhanouskaya to Ukraine. Therefore, we have someone to talk to about the entire range of issues,"
Sybiha also stated that Ukraine is open to meetings.
"At any point in Ukraine or Belarus - I am ready to meet with him and discuss the problems of Belarusian-Ukrainian relations. And, perhaps, talk about prospects,"