DW spoke with exiled Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya about the connection between Ukraine's fight against Russia and Belarusians' fight for democracy.

"When Ukraine wins this war, it will be a chance for Belarusians to change the situation in Belarus," she said, adding that Belarus is also important for Ukraine. "We understand that without free and democratic Belarus, there will be constant threats to Ukraine as well, because while [President Alexander] Lukashenko is in power in the country... Belarus can be given to Putin as a launching pad for further attacks, for constant provocations or blackmail."

She went on to say that if Ukraine loses, "it will embolden Russia in their ambitions" since Russia is currently "testing how far they can go until there will be reaction from from Europe."