What did I say to the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda?

On June 26, I had the honor, together with President-elect Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya and Siarhei Tsikhanouski, to take part in a meeting with the President of Poland, Andrzej Duda. This meeting lasted more than an hour and took place at the Presidential Palace in Warsaw.

First, I thanked the President of Poland for five years of unwavering support for Belarusians who were forced to leave their country. This will remain in the historical memory of the Belarusian people — the moment when Poland extended its hand and came to our aid, while hundreds of thousands of Belarusians, driven out by the most severe wave of repression Europe has seen in decades, had to flee Belarus.

Second, I expressed my gratitude to the President for the words he once said to me — that he would always raise the Belarusian issue on international platforms and draw attention to the importance of remembering the situation in Belarus. And I thanked him for keeping his word — for consistently speaking in support of democratic Belarus and for not recognizing Lukashenko as the legitimate president of Belarus.

Third, I asked the President of Poland not to forget about Belarusians and Belarus in his future public and political activities, and to continue supporting us in achieving our common goal.

It was especially important for me to tell the President of Poland that the first line of the European Union’s securitydoes not lie along the state borders of Poland, Lithuania, and Latvia with Belarus — but within Belarusian societyitself. That is why it is crucial to support Belarusians who stand for independence, oppose war, and fight for freedom in our country. It is essential to support independent media, bloggers, and all active individuals who continue to deliver the truth and independent perspectives into Belarus for Belarusians.

President Duda emphasized that his vision for European security strategy is one where four countries — Ukraine, Poland, Belarus, and Lithuania — as allies, are free and democratic. This, he said, would create a strong buffer zone of security for the broader democratic European space.

President Duda is truly an ally — an ally of Belarusians who want to live in democracy and freedom.

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