Zelensky thanks Cyprus for support in EU accession negotiations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky officially expressed his gratitude to Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides for his support regarding Ukraine’s integration into the European Union. The statement followed a congratulatory message sent by Christodoulides on the occasion of the 35th anniversary of Ukraine's independence, celebrated on August 24, 2026.

Zelensky highlighted that the first cluster of EU accession negotiation chapters for Ukraine was successfully opened in June 2026 during Cyprus’ six-month tenure as the rotating holder of the Council of the European Union. Former European affairs deputy minister Marilena Raouna had previously noted the intensive diplomatic efforts undertaken by the Cypriot government to reach this milestone. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine currently views Cyprus as a reliable partner and is looking forward to the opening of the remaining negotiating clusters to advance the country's bid for full bloc membership.

The Ukrainian president also expressed appreciation for broader forms of cooperation with Cyprus, signaling an intent to expand bilateral ties in various sectors. While no specific future deadlines for the next negotiation rounds were cited in the reports, the focus remains on maintaining momentum within the EU integration process following the initial success achieved during the Cypriot presidency.