Commentary

Who speaks for Belarus? The battle for the pen

Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks to journalists at the European Political Community summit in Dublin, November 12, 2026. Photo: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office
Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya speaks to journalists at the European Political Community summit in Dublin, November 12, 2026. Photo: Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya's Office

The question of Belarus in the negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine is not currently on the table at all – even Europe is struggling to secure a place at the negotiating table, says Radio Svoboda political observer Valery Karbalevich. But when it comes to a new security system in the region, the question will arise of who will sign on behalf of Belarus – and that, according to the analyst, is precisely what Lukashenka is counting on.