Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sought to advance EU membership discussions and secure stricter sanctions on Russia during a meeting on Wednesday as Cyprus took over the European Union's rotating presidency.
Zelenskyy met with Cypriot President Nikos Christodoulides in Nicosia as Cyprus officially began its six-month presidency.
“We are working to make as much progress as possible during this period on opening negotiation clusters and on Ukraine’s accession to the European Union,” Zelenskyy said in a statement posted on X following the meeting.
Ukraine applied to join the EU just days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, aiming to align itself politically and economically with the West. Despite the ongoing war and opposition from EU member Hungary to a fast-track process for Kyiv, Ukraine continues to push for progress on its bid.
“The President and I discussed strengthening sanctions against Russia, which must remain in place for as long as Russia’s aggression and occupation continue,” Zelenskyy stated.
The two leaders also addressed bolstering Ukraine’s air defence and the production and supply of drones. “We hope that support for Ukraine will remain strong,” he added.
Zelenskyy was scheduled to meet later with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa.
He explained that Wednesday’s discussions would allow for further talks about a meeting held in Paris on Tuesday, where the United States pledged to back a broad coalition of Ukraine’s allies in offering security guarantees in the event of a ceasefire, to support the country if Russia launches further attacks.
Cyprus, traditionally close to Russia politically and culturally, has fully endorsed sanctions against Moscow. Many on the island draw comparisons between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Turkey’s invasion of northern Cyprus in 1974 following a brief coup orchestrated by Greece’s military rulers at the time.
"Cyprus reaffirms its unwavering commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. As a country that still bears the consequences of an illegal invasion and ongoing military occupation, we fully understand what is at stake," Christodoulides said in a post on X after meeting Zelenskyy.
"Ukraine will be a central priority during our presidency, and we will work to ensure continued support at all levels," he added.
Later in Nicosia, a ceremony marking the beginning of Cyprus’s six-month presidency will include leaders from the Middle East, such as Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, reflecting the eastern Mediterranean island’s ambition to serve as a bridge between Europe and the region.
The United States is handing over a tanker to Venezuela that it seized earlier this month, according to two U.S. officials, marking the first known ca...
Colombian authorities on Wednesday located a missing plane carrying 15 people in the northeast of the country, with no survivors found, an Air Force s...
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase ...
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate on Wednesday that Venezuela’s new leadership is moving towards closer relations with the United ...
China has approved the first batch of Nvidia's H200 artificial intelligence chips after Washington allowed limited sales, paving the way for major Chi...
The United States is handing over a tanker to Venezuela that it seized earlier this month, according to two U.S. officials, marking the first known case of Donald Trump’s administration returning such a vessel, Reuters reported.
Colombian authorities on Wednesday located a missing plane carrying 15 people in the northeast of the country, with no survivors found, an Air Force source and local media said.
Liverpool confirmed direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League round of 16 with a 6-0 win over Qarabağ at Anfield in their final league-phase match.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate on Wednesday that Venezuela’s new leadership is moving towards closer relations with the United States, signalling that Washington sees no immediate need for further military action following the recent arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.
The death toll from nationwide protests in Iran has climbed to 6,126, according to the U.S.-based Human Rights Activists News Agency (HRANA).
France’s National Assembly has approved a bill banning access to social media for children under 15, a move backed by President Emmanuel Macron and the government as part of efforts to protect teenagers’ mental and physical health.
Israel has recovered the remains of the last remaining hostage held in Gaza, the military said on Monday, fulfilling a key condition of the initial phase of U.S. President Donald Trump's plan to end the war in the Palestinian territory.
The S&P 500 edged to a record closing high on Tuesday, marking its fifth consecutive day of gains, as strong advances in technology stocks offset a sharp selloff in healthcare shares and a mixed batch of corporate earnings.
South Korea has said it will uphold its trade agreement with the U.S. despite President Donald Trump’s announcement of higher tariffs on South Korean goods.
New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani has called for tax increases on the city’s wealthiest residents and most profitable corporations, warning that the city is facing a fiscal crisis on a scale greater than the Great Recession.
The United States is handing over a tanker to Venezuela that it seized earlier this month, according to two U.S. officials, marking the first known case of Donald Trump’s administration returning such a vessel, Reuters reported.
Colombian authorities on Wednesday located a missing plane carrying 15 people in the northeast of the country, with no survivors found, an Air Force source and local media said.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told the Senate on Wednesday that Venezuela’s new leadership is moving towards closer relations with the United States, signalling that Washington sees no immediate need for further military action following the recent arrest of President Nicolas Maduro.
China is supplying key industrial equipment that has enabled Russia to speed up production of its newest nuclear-capable hypersonic missile, an investigation by The Telegraph has found, heightening concerns in Europe over Moscow’s ability to threaten the West despite international sanctions.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment