Belarus Opposition Leader Arrives Kyiv For Her First Official Visit.

Kyiv; May 2026: Leader of the Belarusian democratic forces Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has arrived in Kyiv for the first time, yesterday (Monday – 25th May 2026) by a special train. This is her first visit to Ukraine, upon the invitation of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. An entire delegation arrived in Kyiv together with Tsikhanouskaya. It included:

• Advisers Franak Viačorka, Denis Kuchynski, and Anatoly Lebedko;
• Deputy Head and Representative for the Transfer of Power in the United Transitional Cabinet of Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, Pavel Latushka;
• Chief of Staff at the United Transitional Cabinet, Valery Matskevich;
• Representative of the United Transitional Cabinet for social issues, Olga Zazulinskaya.

The delegation was met at the Kyiv railway station by Ukrainian Foreign Ministry Ambassador-at-Large Yaroslav Chornohor.

Tsikhanouskaya has a busy schedule. She will meet with the Ukrainian leadership and also take part in the International Summit of Cities and Regions. This is an annual event held as part of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, aimed at attracting international support for the country’s reconstruction.

President Zelenskyy invited her to visit Ukraine at the end of January this year, during their first bilateral meeting in Vilnius.

Earlier, on May 22nd, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, commenting on Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko’s proposal to meet with Zelenskyy, announced Tsikhanouskaya’s upcoming visit. He noted that Kyiv has someone to talk to on all issues concerning Belarus. The visit comes one day after Russia’s massive missile and drone attack on Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities on the night of May 24th.

“Terror is supported by the Lukashenko regime”, Tsikhanouskaya said while condemning the strike. She also expressed solidarity with Ukrainians and confidence in their victory.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya commented on her visit to Kyiv on her X page and shared the first photos.

“I began my visit to Kyiv this morning by going straight from the train station to pay tribute at the grave of Maria Zaitseva. She symbolises not only our resistance to dictatorship but also Ukrainian-Belarusian solidarity”, she wrote. Maria Zaitseva was a Belarusian activist and public figure who died in Ukraine while repelling the Russian invasion.

“For me, Maria is a symbol of a new generation of Belarusians. People who understand that the freedom of Belarus and the freedom of Ukraine are inseparable”, Tsikhanouskaya added.

Tsikhanouskaya insists that Belarus must be mentioned in any peace agreement aimed at ending the war. She stated that without resolving the Belarusian issue, the security of Ukraine and the West would remain under threat. Tsikhanouskaya also asserted that under Lukashenko, Belarus has effectively turned into a Russian military platform and poses a constant threat to Ukraine.

Earlier, on 10th February this year, Tsikhanouskaya, while addressing media reporters had affirmed that: “The meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent a powerful signal to Belarusians. As long as Belarus remains under Lukashenko’s control, it will always be a threat to Ukraine. Without a free Belarus, there will be no secure Ukraine, and vice versa”, while adding further, “The appointment of Ukraine’s special envoy to Belarus is expected in the near future, and Tsikhanouskaya’s visit to Kyiv is scheduled for late February or early March 2026. The parties plan to begin strategic consultations on sanctions policy, the status of Belarusian volunteers, and joint information warfare”.

The Opposition leader had further accused that Lukashenko’s regime has begun to release individual groups of political prisoners. Tsikhanouskaya warns the West against illusions: this is not humanism, but cynical bargaining. The dictator is using people as living commodities to break out of international isolation and achieve the lifting of sanctions.

The Donald Trump administration has already taken certain steps towards Belarus, lifting some restrictions in exchange for the release of people. “We must always remember that Lukashenko is a self-proclaimed dictator, an international criminal, and his legitimization cannot be allowed”, she had added. According to Tsikhanouskaya, there are already two cases against Lukashenko in the International Criminal Court.

Under Lukashenko, Belarus has effectively become a military platform for Russia. The deployment of Russian nuclear weapons and new missile systems (such as Oreshnik) on Belarusian territory is an instrument of blackmail not only against Ukraine but also against the whole of Europe. She had then emphasised that Lukashenko is completely dependent on the Kremlin economically and politically. She is concerned that if a grand bargain is reached to end the war in Ukraine without taking into account the interests of Belarus, the country could remain under Russia’s de facto control for decades.

Tsikhanouskaya also hopes that after her victory, Ukraine will become an advocate for a free Belarus on the international stage. In addition, she draws a clear line between the Belarusian and Russian opposition. “We are different, we have no imperial ambitions, and the majority of Belarusians are against war”, said Tsikhanouskaya.

Team Maverick.