Belarus–Ukraine relations

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Belarus-Ukraine relations
Map indicating locations of Belarus and Ukraine

Belarus
Ukraine

Belarus–Ukraine relations (Belarusian: Беларуска-ўкраінскія адносіны, Bielaruska-ŭkrainskija adnosiny, Ukrainian: Українсько-білоруські відносини, Ukrayins'ko-Bilorus'ki vidnosyny, Russian: Белорусско-украинские отношения, Belorussko-ukrainskiye otnosheniya) are foreign relations between Belarus and Ukraine. Both countries are full members of the Baku Initiative and Central European Initiative.

Historical relations[]

Pre-1991 background[]

Both countries, each historically part of Kievan Rus' (9th to 13 centuries CE), came gradually under the control of the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795), and ultimately, of the Russian Empire (1721-1917). The Second Polish Republic ruled parts of each in the period from 1918 to 1939. Prior to the 1991 breakup, both countries formed part of the Soviet Union (founded in 1922) as the Byelorussian SSR (founded in 1920) and Ukrainian SSR (founded in 1919); they both became founding members of the United Nations in their own right in 1945. As Slavic nations, both Belarus and Ukraine share closely related cultures and are predominantly inhabited by the East Slavic ethnic groups of Belarusians and Ukrainians respectively, along with an admixture of Russians.

Modern era[]

Today, the two countries share an 891–km border. An agreement on the state border between Belarus and Ukraine signed in 1997 was to be submitted to the Belarusian parliament for ratification after Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and former Ukrainian President Viktor Yushchenko finished the process of the formalization of the border issues between the two states early November 2009.[1]

Breakdowns in relations[]

In August 2020, during the Belarusian protests against Lukashenko, Ukraine recalled its Ambassador to Belarus for the first time to assess "the new reality" and prospects of further bilateral relations between the two neighboring countries.[2] Belarus returned detained contractors (whom Lukashenko said were part of the Wagner Group) to Russia,[3] coming in defiance of Ukrainian calls to send those who were detained to Ukraine to be prosecuted for over their role in the War in Donbass. In a meeting with member of Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada Yevgeniy Shevchenko in April 2021, Lukashenko criticized former Ukrainian president Leonid Kravchuk for suggesting that Minsk be removed as a host in the Normandy Format as a result of the protests.[4]

In response to the forced diversion of Ryanair Flight 4978 by the Belarusian government in May 2021, Ukraine banned Belarusian airlines from operating in Ukrainian airspace.[5] In addition, Ukraine joined the European Union in imposing sanctions on Belarusian officials.[6] In response to Ukraine, Belarus imposed new trade barriers on a variety of Ukrainian goods entering Belarus.[7]

Diplomatic visits[]

Resident diplomatic missions[]

  • Embassy of Belarus in Kyiv

  • Embassy of Ukraine in Minsk

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Belarus to ratify border agreement with Ukraine Archived November 8, 2009, at the Wayback Machine, Interfax-Ukraine (November 5, 2009)
  2. ^ "Ukraine recalls its ambassador to Belarus". Reuters. 2020-08-17. Retrieved 2020-08-21.
  3. ^ Belarus hands over alleged mercenaries to Russia: Russian prosecutor
  4. ^ "Lukashenko: I have always had good relations with all Ukrainian presidents". eng.belta.by. 2021-04-20. Retrieved 2021-04-24.
  5. ^ "Ukraine will ban Belarus airlines from using its airspace from May 29".
  6. ^ https://www.kyivpost.com/eastern-europe/ukraine-joins-eu-sanctions-against-belarus-as-eu-plans-more-sanctions.html
  7. ^ "Ukraine says Belarus has imposed trade barriers in plane row". Reuters. 28 May 2021.
  8. ^ "Ukraine keen on further dialogue with EU, Eurasian Troika – Poroshenko". Interfax-Ukraine. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  9. ^ Miller, Christopher (11 February 2015). "What's at stake as Putin, Poroshenko meet in Minsk to talk peace". Mashable. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  10. ^ "The First Forum of Regions of Belarus and Ukraine in Gomel | BelCCI". www.cci.by. Retrieved 2020-09-05.
  11. ^ "Along with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliev also took part in the celebrations".
  12. ^ "On October 27 the President of the Republic of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko together with presidents of Ukraine, Russia and Azerbaijan placed a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in the memorial complex "Park of Glory" in Kiev".
  13. ^ Embassy of Belarus in Kyiv
  14. ^ Embassy of Ukraine in Minsk

External links[]

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