Washington (CNN) Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya said her meeting with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday was "very friendly and warm" and there was an understanding "that there will be strong actions in the nearest future." "It can be painful in short-term perspective but people are suffering now because of the regime, not because of sanctions," she said, noting that sanctions could help force the Lukashenko regime from power. In addition to the top US diplomat, Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Toria Nuland, State Department counselor Derek Chollet and US Ambassador to Belarus Julie Fisher were at the meeting. It is unclear if US President Joe Biden will meet with the opposition leader. A senior administration official on Friday said that "senior officials at the White House look forward to meeting Ms. (Tsikhanouskaya) next week when she is in Washington."

Source: CNN July 19, 2021 16:20 UTC