European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President António Costa and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived at the Presidential Palace on Wednesday afternoon for a quadrilateral meeting with President Nikos Christodoulides focused on Ukraine.
The meeting took place within the framework of Cyprus’s EU Council Presidency, which officially launches later on Wednesday evening.
Zelenskyy arrived first, followed by von der Leyen and then Costa, with Christodoulides receiving them at the palace steps where a red carpet was laid out. The four officials then stepped outside for a commemorative photograph.
Before the quadrilateral meeting began, Christodoulides, flanked by the three other participants, said Wednesday was an important day and that Cyprus is ready to cooperate during its presidency semester for an autonomous EU that is open to the world.
Christodoulides is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Costa on coordinating work on European priorities for the semester, within the presidency’s role of ensuring Union cohesion against international challenges and strengthening Europe’s strategic autonomy, security and resilience.
I hosted a quadrilateral meeting with the Presidents of Ukraine @ZelenskyyUa, the European Council @eucopresident and the European Commission @vonderleyen . Our discussions focused on the latest developments and efforts towards a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in Ukraine,… pic.twitter.com/R1gR01mp2Z
— President of the Republic of Cyprus (@PresidentCYP) January 7, 2026
The president will also meet Lebanese President Joseph Aoun later, focusing on stability in the Eastern Mediterranean, regional developments and strengthening EU and Southern Neighbourhood cooperation channels.
The presidency opening ceremony takes place later on Wednesday at the Theatre Organisation of Cyprus Main Stage, with von der Leyen and Costa attending alongside other leaders.
Attendees include European Court of Auditors President Tony Murphy, Zelenskyy, Moldovan President Maia Sandu, Iraqi President Abdul Latif Rashid, Aoun, Arab League Secretary-General Ahmed Aboul Gheit and Gulf Cooperation Council Secretary-General Jasem Mohamed AlBudaiwi.
Bahrain, Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the United Arab Emirates will be represented at ministerial level.
Following the ceremony, Christodoulides will host an official dinner for the heads of the 14 delegations at the Leventis Gallery.
(File photo)
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