A new shadow government is emerging to form a coalition with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in an effort to diminish Russia's expansion.
Leading the opposition effort is Belarusian leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya. In her proposal, she wrote, “We are proposing to build an alliance with democratic Belarus."
“I am convinced that Russia will be defeated, and Ukraine will restore its territorial integrity and defend its independence," Tsikhanouskaya wrote. "Ukrainians are now writing the history not just of their own, but that of the world… We are ready for joint action with Ukraine.”
Speaking to The Daily Beast, Valery Kavaleuski, a foreign affairs representative for Tsikhanouskaya, also expounded on the issues as he expressed concern about Russian President Vladimir Putin setting his sites on Belarus and invading the Eastern European country like he did Ukraine.
“Russians are looking at us in the same light as they look at Ukraine,” Kavaleuski told the news outlet. “‘This is a state that is temporarily dependent. This is the nation that does not deserve to be next to Russia, so they all have to be ‘Russified.’ This is their basic understanding of how the world should work.”
He also noted how targeting Belarus could prove to be beneficial for Putin.
“When you look at the map, you see that these are basically the most important countries on the way from Russia to Western Europe,” Kavaleuski said.
Per the Beast, Kavaleuski said, "TheDemocratic Republics in Belarus and Ukraine should be collaborating to resolve the 'grave threat to our statehood in both countries.'"
READ MORE: Historian explores 'what role NATO’s expansion played' in Russia-Ukraine conflict
The news outlet also notes: "In recent weeks, Belarus and Russia have been working on launching a joint military grouping and are conducting live-fire exercises in Belarus."
Belarusian defense officials, per the news outlet, have also said, "Russia is currently sending approximately 9,000 troops and hundreds of armored vehicles into Belarus in preparation for potential deployment, just as Russia faces mounting losses in Ukraine."
“Even though we don't have the resources of the state, we have the legitimacy of the Belarusian people we have legitimacy of the international community, and if we have the support — the political support, diplomatic support — of Ukraine, now we can do much more for Ukraine and for our own country,” Kavaleuski said.