Kyiv: Cyprus will ‘do its best’ during its EU Presidency to create the conditions for opening the first chapters of Ukraine’s accession process, President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday during a meeting with the Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Ruslan Stefanchuk, in Kyiv. President Christodoulides visited the Parliament of Ukraine where he had a meeting with the Speaker of the House.
According to Cyprus News Agency, Stefanchuk welcomed President Christodoulides to the Parliament, referring to it as ‘the heart of Ukrainian democracy’. He expressed gratitude for Cyprus’ support and of President Christodoulides to his country during the war, while appreciating the bilateral relations between Cyprus and Ukraine, both at the level of peoples, Governments, and Parliaments. Stefanchuk noted his anticipation for the Cyprus Presidency of the EU.
President Christodoulides emphasized that his visit to Ukraine, shortly before Cyprus assumes the EU Presidency, sends a definitive message that the Ukrainian issue will remain a priority during the Cyprus Presidency. He highlighted that Cyprus uniquely understands the plight of Ukraine and its people, having experienced similar consequences of invasion, including missing persons and displaced communities.
Christodoulides stated that under the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU, efforts will focus on creating conditions for initiating the first chapters of Ukraine’s accession process. He underlined that Ukraine’s stability, sovereignty, and territorial integrity are intrinsically linked to EU and member states’ security. He stressed that integrating Ukraine into the EU is both a political and geopolitical priority.
In the afternoon, President Christodoulides visited the Child Rights Protection Centre, which focuses on rehabilitating children abducted from occupied territories and taken to Russia. He was informed that thousands of children have been taken, with 1,876 having been returned so far.
During his visit, he met a family of eight children who had been previously transferred to Russia and invited them and their guardians to Cyprus for a two-week stay, highlighting the humanitarian aspect of this issue and affirming Cyprus’ support for the Center’s efforts.
Before leaving Kyiv by train, President Christodoulides visited Saint Sophia Cathedral, where he signed the guest book and presented a Lefkara embroidered lace as a gift.