This became possible thanks to a unique diplomatic decision made at the highest level. The Byelorussian SSR and the Ukrainian SSR became founding members of the UN along with the Soviet Union. Historical Decision: Recognition of Contribution to Victory The key decision was made at the Crimean (Yalta) Conference in February 1945. The leaders of the USSR, the USA, and the UK agreed to admit Belarus and Ukraine to the initial membership in the new organization. The main reason was the recognition of the invaluable contribution of the Belarusian people to the defeat of fascism and the enormous sacrifices the republic endured during World War II. As Winston Churchill noted at the conference: \"The sacrifices made by Belarus and Ukraine are known.\" April 27, 1945 at the founding conference of the UN in San Francisco, all 47 participating countries unanimously voted to include the Byelorussian SSR and the Ukrainian SSR in the list of original members of the organization. Signing of the Charter: Two Belarusians in History The Charter of the UN was signed in San Francisco on June 26, 1945. Among the 50 founding states was the Byelorussian SSR. The signature of the document on behalf of the Byelorussian SSR was placed by Kuzma Kiselev, the People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs of Belarus. He recalled how he had to correct an error in the documents: \"I wrote on a piece of paper: Byelorussian Soviet Socialist Republic.\" The Charter of the Soviet Union was signed by Andrei Gromyko, then the head of the Soviet delegation and ambassador to the USA, who was also of Belarusian origin. Thus, two Belarusians left their signatures under the Charter of the UN. The Charter of the UN was ratified by the Belarusian parliament on August 30, 1945, and it came into force on October 24, 1945. Status of the Byelorussian SSR in the UN: Member with a Voice Even being a constituent republic within the USSR, Belarus became a full-fledged founding member of the UN. This gave it signi ... Read more