February 14, Pozirk. Potential peace talks concern not only Ukraine, but the whole region, including Belarus and Moldova, Belarusian opposition leader Śviatłana Cichanoŭskaja has told participants in a Belarus-themed discussion at the Munich Security Conference (MSC) which opened today.
The coming weeks and months will be decisive both for Ukraine and Belarus, the politician stressed, noting that developments in Belarus directly affect the security of the European Union.
The EU participation in peace talks will guarantee that Belarusians’ interests will be taken into account, she noted.
“For us, the stakes in Ukraine’s peace talks could not be higher,” she said. “If Ukraine is forced to make concessions, it will only embolden [Alaksandar] Łukašenka and [Vladimir] Putin. It will give them even more room to tighten their grip on Belarus. But if peace is secured on Ukraine’s terms, it will weaken dictators, and create new opportunities for Belarus.”
Preserving Belarusian sovereignty and ensuring the transition to democracy will help achieve stable and just peace, Cichanoŭskaja said. The first step towards it is weakening Moscow’s influence in Belarus and withdrawing Russian troops, she noted, calling for more pressure on Łukašenka.
Tonight, Cichanoŭskaja is expected to address MSC from the main stage for the first time.
