Tsikhanouskaya warns: Dictators are testing Europe's borders

WISE NEWS PRESS / BRUSSELS, BELGIUM — DEC. 08, 2025

Exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya has warned that authoritarian regimes are "testing Europe's borders," emphasizing that a hasty or unfavorable peace deal in Ukraine could dismantle the continent's entire security architecture.

Speaking to Euronews' "Europe Today" program, Tsikhanouskaya stated that democratic forces across the European Union must confront the threat posed by authoritarian leaders from Moscow to Minsk. While Ukraine remains the primary theater of global conflict, she cautioned that the repercussions of a "bad deal" would extend far beyond Kyiv's borders.

'Not a Consolation Prize'

Tsikhanouskaya expressed concern regarding potential diplomatic outcomes that might overlook her country's sovereignty. "For us, this goes far beyond Ukraine. It is about the European security architecture and the whole region," she said.

Addressing the geopolitical climate, she noted, "We all want peace, and I understand Trump wants a deal, but a lot will depend on Europe's position and how united we can be".

She stressed the necessity of including Belarus in any future negotiations to prevent the nation from becoming a "consolation prize" for the Kremlin. "It is important for us that Belarus is included... so that Belarus does not bow to this regime and Russia. We cannot lose our independence," she added.

Hybrid Warfare at the Border

Tsikhanouskaya, who fled Belarus in 2020 following a disputed election that kept Aliaksandr Lukashenko in power, highlighted ongoing hybrid threats. Lukashenko, in power for 31 years, has faced international sanctions for election fraud and for allowing Russia to use Belarus as a launchpad for its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Recently, Minsk has been accused by Poland and the Baltic states of instrumentalizing illegal migration to create border tension. Lithuania has also reported airspace violations by large-scale balloons, disrupting air traffic and prompting a national emergency declaration in Vilnius.

"This is a hybrid attack against Europe. Dictators constantly try to blackmail leaders to see how far they can go," Tsikhanouskaya concluded. "Indecisiveness will only be perceived as weakness".

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