A formal ceremony later will feature Middle Eastern leaders, including Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, highlighting Cyprus’s aim to serve as a bridge between Europe and the eastern Mediterranean
Nicosia
Cyprus on Wednesday formally took over the rotating presidency of the European Union, beginning its six-month term with a high-profile meeting attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and senior EU leaders. The opening event underlined the bloc’s continued focus on Ukraine and wider regional stability.
Zelenskiy was welcomed at the presidential palace in Nicosia by Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa also joined the discussions, marking a strong show of unity at the start of Cyprus’s term.
Speaking briefly before the meeting, Zelenskiy said he hoped Cyprus’s presidency would help move Ukraine closer to EU membership. He added that the talks would also cover outcomes from a meeting held in Paris a day earlier, where the United States backed a broad group of Ukraine’s allies in pledging security guarantees if a ceasefire is reached and Russia attacks again.
A formal ceremony later in the day will include leaders from the Middle East, such as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Cyprus says this reflects its ambition to act as a bridge between Europe and the eastern Mediterranean region.
Although Cyprus has traditionally maintained close political and cultural ties with Russia, it has fully supported EU sanctions against Moscow since the invasion of Ukraine. Many Cypriots draw parallels between Russia’s actions in Ukraine and Turkey’s military intervention in northern Cyprus in 1974, after a coup linked to the then Greek military regime.
Zelenskiy’s visit was widely seen as a clear political signal of ongoing EU support for Kyiv as the war with Russia enters its fifth year. President Christodoulides said Cyprus’s presidency will focus on strengthening EU autonomy and deeper integration to face growing global challenges.
