"Ending Lukashenko's rule is of utmost importance"
In the ongoing tensions between Ukraine and Belarus, the political relationship between the two nations remains highly strained. This adversarial stance is largely due to Belarus's alignment with Russia, which is actively engaging in a war against Ukraine.
Ukrainian MPs and political circles hold a negative view of the Lukashenko regime, viewing it as a Russian collaborator in military aggression towards Ukraine.
One key point in this relationship and Ukrainian MPs’ stance is the perception of Belarus as a Russian client state. Since 2020, Moscow has exerted significant control over Belarus's political, economic, and military spheres. Lukashenko's regime has enabled Russia to use Belarus as a military foothold for the invasion of Ukraine, hosting tens of thousands of Russian troops and advancing militarization.
Another significant issue is the Lukashenko regime's domestic repression. The Belarusian government continues to crack down on opposition members and control media, stifling democratic forces both domestically and in relation to Ukraine. This authoritarianism is condemned by Ukrainian MPs aligned with democratic and pro-European values.
Ukrainian policymakers and civil society generally sympathize with the Belarusian democratic opposition, viewing the Lukashenko regime as illegitimate and repressive. The war in Ukraine is seen as an opportunity to bolster Belarusian pro-democracy movements that oppose Russian influence and Lukashenko’s governance.
Officially, Ukrainian MPs oppose the Lukashenko regime and regard Belarus under Lukashenko as an extension of Russian aggression rather than an independent partner. This stance aligns with Ukraine’s strategic interests and moral alignment in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
Despite Belarusian officials claiming sovereignty and denying being under Russian occupation, expert analysis and Ukrainian perspectives emphasize that Belarus acts as a de facto client state of Russia, limiting its independent role in regional security.
On the fifth anniversary of the Belarusian revolution, the inter-factional parliamentary group "For a Democratic Belarus" issued a statement, expressing support for the Belarusian democratic forces. These forces are consistently reminding the world of the importance of fighting against the Lukashenko regime.
However, it's important to note that no specific mention of the Belarusian democratic forces or their role in reminding the world of the importance of fighting against the regime was made in this statement.
Ukrainian MPs have stated that Lukashenko has effectively handed over Belarusian territory to Russian occupation. They also identify Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko as having transformed into a Kremlin helper.
The Lukashenko regime collaborates with Russia, China, North Korea, and Iran. The statement identifies the "True Belarus" as the Belarusian volunteers defending Ukraine as part of the Kastus Kalinowski Battalion and other Ukrainian Defense Forces units.
The statement was issued by Verkhovna Rada deputy Alexei Goncharenko. The Lukashenko regime continues to commit crimes against its own citizens and other countries, posing a threat to Kyiv, Vilnius, Warsaw, Riga, and all of Europe.
- Ukrainian MPs perceive the Lukashenko regime as a collaborator with Russia, given its support for Moscow's war-and-conflicts against Ukraine, and view Belarus as a client state in politics.
- The general-news regarding Belarus is heavily influenced by its alignment with Russia, as Ukrainian MPs support the Belarusian democratic forces fighting against the Lukashenko regime, seeing it as a threat not only to Kyiv but to all of Europe.
