Zelensky fails to mention Belarus in his speech on Kalinouski uprising

On January 23, Warsaw hosted celebrations to mark the 160th anniversary of the Kastus Kalinouski uprising (known as the January Uprising in Poland). The event, hosted by Polish President Andrzej Duda, was attended by Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda, who met with Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya after the solemn part.

Ukraine's ambassador was also there, laying a wreath at the memorial plaque and reading a letter from Volodymyr Zelensky. In the letter, President of Ukraine named the peoples who had united during the uprising 160 years ago but chose not to mention Belarusians.

"Hundred and sixty years ago, our peoples united their forces, standing shoulder to shoulder against Russian imperialism. The January uprising accelerated the national revival and liberation movement in the territory of modern Ukraine, Poland and Lithuania," the letter of the Ukrainian president said.

Gitanas Nauseda, writing on Twitter about the celebrations, mentioned only Lithuania and Poland. But Poland's Andrzej Duda wrote about his belief that freedom and the will to self-determination would win in Belarus.

The National uprising of 1863-1864 took place in the lands of Belarus, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine, which were part of the Russian Empire. On the territory of Belarus, the rebels were led by Kastus Kalinouski, whose name is now borne by the Belarusian regiment fighting for the independence of Ukraine.