Kyiv Warns Belarus Becoming ‘Platform for Aggression’ After Sybiha-Tsihanouskaya Talks

Ukraine’s FM Sybiha met Tsihanouskaya, warning Russia is pulling Belarus deeper into war and pledging Kyiv’s support for democratic forces. Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied (Photo by Andrii Sybiha/X) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google Ukraine ’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said he held talks with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsihanouskaya, warning that Russia is increasingly drawing Belarus into its war against Ukraine. In a post on X , Sybiha said the two discussed the evolving situation in Belarus and the growing security risks linked to Moscow’s use of Belarusian territory. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “Moscow is increasingly dragging Belarus into its war against Ukraine , turning it into a platform for aggression, not only against our country, but against Europe as a whole,” Sybiha wrote. He stressed that Belarusian citizens should not become “hostages of the Lukashenko regime,” which he said bears full responsibility for enabling Russian aggression. Sybiha added that Ukraine would continue engaging with democratic Belarusian forces to promote regional security and stability. “The Belarusian people will definitely be free from this aggressive authoritarian regime,” he said, expressing confidence that a future democratic Belarus would take its place in the European community. President Volodymyr Zelensky said on May 2 that “specific activity” had been recorded on the Belarusian side of the Ukraine-Belarus border. In a video address, he said Ukrainian forces are closely monitoring and documenting the situation, warning that Kyiv is ready to respond to any attempts to involve neighboring forces in actions against Ukraine’s sovereignty. Other Topics of Interest Zelensky Counters Moscow’s Victory Day Truce With Earlier May 6 Ceasefire “Life over parades,” Kyiv said, urging Moscow to show whether it wants peace or military spectacle. The warning comes amid rising tensions inside Belarus. Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation recently reported that Minsk is tightening control over internet access, adopting measures similar to Russia’s “sovereign internet” system. These restrictions coincide with increasingly aggressive rhetoric from Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko and warnings from former Ukrainian officials that Belarus could again serve as a launchpad for escalation, as it did during the 2022 invasion through the Chornobyl direction. At the same time, the situation remains politically complex. Lukashenko was recently invited to join US President Donald Trump’s Board of Peace following the release of political prisoners – a move seen as a potential, though controversial, signal of warming ties with Washington despite ongoing security concerns near Ukraine’s border. On April 17, Zelensky warned that Russia may be trying to draw Belarus more directly into the war. He made the remarks after a briefing from Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky, noting that Russian forces have failed to regain the initiative despite ongoing assaults. According to Ukrainian officials, Russia is attempting to regroup, likely to offset personnel shortages. Increased military activity in Belarus appears to be linked to these efforts, with intelligence reports pointing to the construction of roads toward Ukraine and the deployment of artillery positions near the border. Earlier, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko signed a decree allowing the conscription of reserve officers, expanding the country’s available manpower, according to Belarusian agency SB News. Zelensky said he has instructed officials to warn Belarusian leadership through appropriate channels that Ukraine is ready to defend its territory and independence, adding that Moscow may be seeking to involve Belarus more directly in the full-scale invasion. Kyiv Post is Ukraine’s first and oldest English news organization since 1995. Its international market reach of 97% outside of Ukraine makes it truly Ukraine’s Global – and most reliable – Voice.