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By Euronews with AP
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Belarus’ exiled opposition leader Svetlana Tikhanovskaya visited Kyiv for the first time on Monday as the Ukrainian capital cleaned up after Russia’s biggest missile attack of the year, while world leaders kept a close eye on how much support the Belarusian government is ready to provide for Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
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Tikhanovskaya, who has been globally recognised as the de facto opposition leader of Belarus since standing against strongman leader Aleksandr Lukashenko in the country’s 2020 election, began her visit by paying tribute to Maria Zaitseva, a dissident who joined Ukraine’s military alongside numerous other Belarusians.
“For me, Maria is a symbol of a new generation of Belarusians,” Tikhanovskaya posted on X. “People who understand that the freedom of Belarus and the freedom of Ukraine are inseparable.
“She died a hero, but her name will live on. And it is our duty to do everything possible to ensure that the sacrifice of Maria and other heroes was not in vain.”
‘Attacks, blackmail and threats’
Tikhanovskaya’s visit came the day after French President Emmanuel Macron spoke by phone with Lukashenko about the war in Ukraine. It was the two leaders’ first call since the invasion began.
Addressing the press, Tsikhanouskaya echoed that France’s main goal is to send a warning to Belarus.
“Lukashenko’s regime knows well what needs to be done to improve ties with the European Union, but it isn’t happening – instead hybrid attacks, nuclear blackmail and threats to the entire region continue,” Tsikhanouskaya told the Associated Press on Sunday.
Lukashenko, who has governed Belarus with an iron fist for more than three decades and repeatedly rigged elections in order to retain power, relies on the Kremlin for cheap energy, loans and other support.
Western countries have repeatedly slapped sanctions on Belarus, including for its crackdown on human rights and for allowing Moscow to use its territory to invade Ukraine. But in recent months, the Belarusian dictator has been trying to improve ties with the West.
Since US President Donald Trump returned to the White House, Lukashenko has released hundreds of political prisoners as part of deals that lifted some US sanctions.
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