Nicosia: Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Foreign and European Affairs, Harris Georgiades, and committee member Averof Neophytou, met with a delegation of former prisoners of war who had returned to Ukraine after being held captive in Russia for three years.
According to Cyprus News Agency, the delegation included former Mayor of Kherson, Volodymyr Mykolaienko, and Dmytro Khilyuk, a journalist from the Ukrainian UNIAN agency. Yulia Pavliuk, head of the Ukrainian regional center of the Coordinating Staff for the Treatment of Prisoners of War, also attended the meeting. The delegation's visit coincided with events organized by the Embassy of Ukraine to mark the fourth anniversary of the Russian invasion.
During the meeting, Cyprus parliamentarians reiterated their support for Ukraine's independence, territorial integrity, and national sovereignty. They expressed full backing for Ukraine's leadership and people in their struggle against Russian aggression. Georgiades emphasized Cyprus's commitment to international law and its solidarity with Ukraine, given its own experience with territorial occupation by Turkey. He also highlighted the ongoing humanitarian issue of missing persons in Cyprus.
The Ukrainian delegation informed the MPs about the status of prisoners of war, a crucial aspect of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia. They highlighted the difficulties in obtaining reliable information about the fate of these prisoners and shared their personal experiences of captivity in Russia, emphasizing their efforts to raise international awareness.
Concerns were raised about the severe conditions faced by the Ukrainian population in Kherson and other frontline cities. Georgiades expressed hope for a successful resolution of this humanitarian issue and the peace process, urging Europe to support Ukraine's independence and territorial integrity with unity and determination.