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Kyiv, Vilnius and Minsk: 19 August 2020 context
Summary
A look back at a day of mourning in Ukraine and of regional diplomatic reaction to Belarus's disputed election.
What was happening in Ukraine and its neighbourhood on 19 August 2020? The day brought news of a loss in Ukrainian science, set against a diplomatic reaction to the contested presidential election in Belarus.
On 19 August 2020, Borys Paton, a prominent Ukrainian scientist, died aged 101. He had served as President of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine from 1962 to 2020.
Reaction to the Belarus election
The days before had seen regional governments respond to the aftermath of the Belarusian presidential election. On 17 August 2020, Ukraine recalled its ambassador to Belarus. The stated aim was to assess what it called "the new reality" and the prospects for bilateral relations between the two neighbouring countries.
On 18 August 2020, Lithuanian MPs approved economic sanctions against Belarus over the contested election. Lithuanian Foreign Minister Linas Linkevičius said Lithuania was "sending a strong message to the world". He also said Lithuania refused to recognise Alexander Lukashenko as president.
Taken together, these reports show Kyiv and Vilnius both reacting to events in Minsk within days of each other, with Lithuania taking the firmer public step of sanctions and non-recognition. Ukraine, for its part, chose to recall its envoy and review the relationship.
