Nicosia’s readiness to implement a number of actions in relation to Ukraine during Cyprus' presidency of the Council of the EU will be conveyed by President Nikos Christodoulides to his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, during his visit to Kyiv today, CNA has learned.
President Christodoulides is paying a working visit to Kyiv ahead of Cyprus’ Presidency of the Council of the EU in the first half of 2026.
According to information CNA has obtained, Nicosia considers this visit very important since it will have the opportunity to send the message that, during its EU Presidency, it will focus not only on the eastern Mediterranean region but also on Ukraine.
According to the same information, President Christodoulides will present to the Ukrainian President 19 proposals that the Republic of Cyprus has worked on, with the aim of supporting Ukraine during its Presidency, and hear his opinion on these proposals.
Some of the proposals that President Christodoulides will present are the organization of an informal Foreign Affairs Council in Kyiv during the Cyprus EU Presidency, as well as holding some working group meetings in Ukraine. They also include raising awareness on the issue of abducted Ukrainian children, for Zelenskyy to attend the informal European Council in April, and to attend the inaugural ceremony for the Cyprus EU Presidency on January 7, 2026.
President Christodoulides, CNA has learnt, will raise with Zelenskyy the issue of circumventing EU sanctions against Russia. Specifically, he will present evidence to Zelenskyy on Turkish companies that circumvent the sanctions and make them less effective. Nicosia would like Zelenskyy to pressure Turkey on this issue, according to the same information.
The need for Kyiv to align with EU foreign policy is another issue that is expected to be raised, in view of Ukraine’s candidacy for accession to the European Union, especially in relation to Turkey, given that Zelenskyy has on several occasions stated that Turkey is important to his country because of the assistance it provides, it was reported.
In addition, during the meeting, President Christodoulides will ask to be briefed by the Ukrainian President on the situation on the ground and on the peace negotiations that took place in Moscow.
He is also expected to discuss the issue of using Russian frozen assets to support Ukraine, an issue EU member states are now discussing, and to which Belgium is reacting, since 90% of all assets are held in that country.
The same information also said that President Christodoulides will raise with Zelenskyy the issue of the 37 citizens of the Republic of Cyprus and 227 companies that were added to the Ukrainian sanctions list, based on allegations, it was noted.
Meeting with US Ambassador to Ukraine
President Christodoulides is to also meet with the US Chargé d' Affaires ad interim to Ukraine, Julie Davis, on Thursday morning after his arrival in Kyiv. During the meeting, he is to be briefed on the peace negotiations, according to the same information.
(Source: CNA)
