Cyprus foreign minister discusses EU expansion and Middle East stability

On May 11, 2026, Cyprus Foreign Minister Constantinos Kombos participated in the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Brussels. He expressed optimism regarding the opening of EU accession chapters for Ukraine, which is expected to occur in June. The Council discussed supporting Lebanon and President Joseph Aoun amid the country's critical situation. The EU-27 ministers confirmed sanctions against violent Israeli settlers in the West Bank, a position supported by Cyprus. Minister Kombos noted that the EU rejected Vladimir Putin's proposal to appoint former German Chancellor Gerhard Schröder as an EU mediator. However, he indicated that a potential communication channel with Moscow might be discussed at the informal Gymnich meeting in Nicosia on May 27-28. Cyprus also requested an EU-wide assessment of the impact of Middle Eastern instability on energy supplies, inflation, and food security. Additionally, a side event was held in Brussels regarding Ukrainian children allegedly forcibly removed from their homes.