Zelenskyy in Vilnius: «As long as Lukashenka's pomeranian has more rights than the people of Belarus»

On Sunday, January 25, Vilnius was visited by the President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki. Together with the President of Lithuania, Gitanas Nausėda, they participated in commemorative events marking the anniversary of the 1863—1864 Uprising.

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya also participated in the ceremony on behalf of Belarusians.

This is not just a protocol visit, but a symbolic gesture that emphasizes the unity of the four nations and their readiness to jointly defend their freedom and independence. The special significance of the moment is enhanced by the fact that January 25 is Volodymyr Zelenskyy's birthday. Volodymyr Zelenskyy turned 48 today.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivered a speech, in which he specifically addressed Belarusians:

«You are a European people who will be together with all our peoples in a united, free Europe. In a peaceful Europe. In a strong Europe. You cannot be erased. None of us can be erased.»

«Belarus is still forced to exist as a Russian governorate-general. Today, so many years after Kastus Kalinouski's time, everything he fought for remains relevant for Belarus, although for Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland, this has already happened.»

«The opportunity to change this was in 2020 — and such an opportunity will still arise,» believes President Zelenskyy. «The uprising of Belarusians should have won in 2020 — so that today there would be no threat from there. Europe and the world should have supported the people who rose up — and history would have been safer.»

Zelenskyy called for unity among the peoples of Central Europe: «Our destiny is to be together. And our success — that of Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, Belarusians — can only be a shared success. Precisely to the extent that we are together, we can be independent.»

We offer you its full text.

«Gitanas, Karol — Mr. Presidents,

Diana, Marta, Olena — our dear First Ladies,

Sviatlana — and the entire team of free Belarus,

Dear friends — peoples who are so close to each other and whose proximity is so important for all of our Europe.

Today we are all gathered here in Vilnius to honor the memory and thank the participants of the 1863 Uprising for their courage. An uprising that confirmed: our destiny is to be together. And our success — that of Ukrainians, Poles, Lithuanians, Belarusians — can only be a shared success. Precisely to the extent that we are together, we can be independent. We have one enemy — and this has been going on for almost four years of full-scale war, much longer — a hybrid war, even longer than the rule of Soviet Moscow and imperial St. Petersburg.

It is here, in our part of Europe, on the lands of our peoples — and, importantly, in the memory of the people — that a clash of two models of attitude towards man and society is taking place. There is our common model, in which people, nations, and cultures matter. And there is a model that has taken root to our east and which for centuries has come into our home with contempt and wars against everything we value. Europe has no choice between these models: there are only two options — freedom or dependence, and our peoples know this best of all. Therefore, we can say decisively: European protection is not enough.

Every delay has its consequences. Belarus is still forced to exist as a Russian governorate-general. Today, so many years after Kastus Kalinouski's time, everything he fought for remains relevant for Belarus, although for Ukraine, Lithuania, and Poland, this has already happened. And this is relevant not only because he was right, but because Belarusians still have to win true independence and true protection of life. As long as Lukashenka's white pomeranian has more rights than the people of Belarus — unfortunately.

The opportunity to change this was in 2020 — and such an opportunity will still arise.

But then, support for Belarus was insufficient, and today we all feel how it has become harder, more expensive, and significantly more dangerous for everyone — due to Belarus's dependence on Moscow. This dependence is not decreasing. Russian operators of «Shahed» drones also operate against Ukraine from the territory of Belarus. Communication for strikes is maintained from Belarus. Russia uses Belarus as a testing ground for blackmailing Europe and the world with «Oreshniks». Belarus's industry works for the Russian war, and Belarus's trade ties help Putin buy components necessary for building a threat to everyone in Europe.

Therefore, it is critically important for Europe not to lose any of the peoples living in freedom. Therefore, it is critically important for Europe not to lose itself. Therefore, all of us in Europe must work every day for a strong Europe.

The uprising of Belarusians should have won in 2020 — so that today there would be no threat from there. Europe and the world should have supported the people who rose up — and history would have been safer. We can say the same about the 1863 Uprising and other movements of peoples who did not receive support from states that remained on the sidelines. Ultimately, history punishes those who stand aside.

To a significant extent, the wars of the 20th century were a consequence of the indifference of the powerful of this world in the 19th century. Russia's war against Ukraine and other Russian wars — against Moldova, against Chechnya, against Georgia — all these are consequences of indifference to the truth of our peoples, to the truth that people felt; and also consequences of an overestimated confidence in the powerful of this world at the end of the Soviet era; and indifference in the 1990s and early 21st century, when Russia was given a «reset» that actually became an «overload» for all of us.

Today we are trying to do everything to ensure such mistakes are not repeated. We are trying to do everything so that our joint actions are sufficient for the real defense of Ukraine and Europe. Poland's aid to Ukraine after February 24 is unprecedented in the entire history of our peoples. Lithuania is also with us — also at an unprecedented level. All Baltic states are with us. Northern Europe is with us. Germany is with us as one of the most important pillars of life. France is with us. Great Britain is with us. Almost all of Central Europe is with us. Italy, Spain, Portugal, all states of Southern Europe are with us. Romania and Moldova are with us.

In 1863, the insurgents could not even dream of such unity, but today this unity is active. The European Union exists — and grows stronger every year. The United States is with us. Canada is with us. Japan is with us.

But our challenge is not for unity to be one hundred percent effective only for half or a few months of the year — not until the next elections in this or that country, but one hundred percent effective always. Not as much as we don't mind. Not as much as we can — but as much as is necessary. Not as much as we don't mind. Not as much as we can. But as much as will work. So that there is no threat to Europe and to each of our peoples.

European politicians should cherish the fact that they represent free and independent states and that they do not need to be commanders of uprisings against empires or occupiers today. It is too early for détente in Europe, as long as the Russian war machine has not quieted down, and dictators neighboring Europe are not weakening — all of them view Europe as prey.

Europe deserves to be strong. To be free. And our slogan — «for our freedom and yours» — has certainly worked. When the 1863 Uprising began, Kyiv University was one of the main centers of free thought. Today, this very center of courage operates in the Kyiv sky and on the land of Ukraine, ensuring that the freedom of our peoples exists and will exist. This will be our own freedom, not in secret university clubs, not only in secret or underground societies. Not only in kitchens will we be able to speak our languages and enjoy our culture. Not only in whispers will we be able to talk about our national ideals. Our freedom is and will be in our arsenals. Our freedom is and will be in education in our countries, over which Moscow will have no influence. Our freedom is and will be in our national economies. Our freedom is and will be in the rights of our children, which no one will limit. Our freedom is and will be in partnerships between our states. That is why Russia has no missile that could cancel the fact that the peoples of Europe are free.

And I want to say separately to the people of Belarus: you are a European people who will be together with all our peoples in a united, free Europe. In a peaceful Europe. In a strong Europe. You cannot be erased. None of us can be erased.

I thank all Belarusian volunteers who are fighting for our independence and for a historical chance for their state. I thank everyone who helps Ukraine — and thereby helps themselves. I thank everyone who supports the truth being heard, for Europe to act, to stop the war and guarantee security.

Generations before us fought for us to exist. Our people are fighting for our children and grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren, to live. To live in peace. So that not one person somewhere on a throne in Russia matters, but that each of our peoples, each person matters.

Because this is the European principle: people matter. Nations matter. Cultures matter. Russia, however, does not matter — because he who is against the peoples always loses in history.

Thank you. Glory to Ukraine!»

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