Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the war in Ukraine could end during Cyprus’s six-month EU Council presidency, speaking at the opening ceremony in Nicosia on Wednesday.
Zelenskyy noted that Ukraine deserves to be an equal member of the European Union just as Cyprus does, and expressed hope that the Cyprus presidency would be productive in advancing his country’s European path.
He also said sanctions against Russia should be strengthened, noting that a new package is being prepared that will target Russia’s “shadow fleet”.
During his speech, Zelenskyy thanked President Nikos Christodoulides and said he was pleased to be in Nicosia as Cyprus assumes the EU Council presidency.
“We all expect a lot from this presidency,” he said.
“For Ukraine, this moment is very important — just as it is for Cyprus — a member state that, unfortunately, remains divided but committed to lasting peace — and is fully equal in Europe,” Zelenskyy said.
He noted that Cyprus may be smaller in size but has an equal voice in European institutions.
“This says a lot about what Europe truly is — that every nation matters and that every free country in Europe deserves to be part of our common European home. And this is what makes Europe stable and peaceful,” he said.
“Ukraine also deserves to be an equal part of our common European home. And we hope that your presidency will be productive in advancing us on this path,” he continued.
Referring to bilateral talks he held earlier with President Christodoulides, he said it was very important that Ukraine is among the Cyprus presidency’s priorities. He said he was grateful for Christodoulides’ statement that the aim should be to open negotiating chapters simultaneously during the presidency for both Ukraine and Moldova.
“This is a strong ambition,” he noted.
Zelenskyy said he hoped the €90 billion support package for Ukraine would begin implementation during the Cyprus presidency. This funding strengthens Ukraine’s resilience and, with it, the resilience of all of Europe, he said.
He added that a practical mechanism is needed to allow these funds to genuinely help Ukraine.
“This mechanism must be designed not to create new problems, but to reduce the challenges we already face. And we are doing what is required on our part in the negotiation process and expect that no additional or excessive demands will be placed on Ukraine,” he said.
He noted that as Cyprus begins its presidency, peace negotiations have reached a new level.
“We are working very actively — Ukraine, our European partners, the United States and all members of the Coalition of the Willing — from Canada to Japan, from the EU to Australia. And it is possible — and we sincerely hope — that this war will end during your presidency. Of course, only if sufficient pressure is applied on the aggressor,” he said.
He added that when pressure is strong enough to exhaust the source of war, peace comes.
“This pressure exists now and the EU plays a decisive role in maintaining it,” he said, referring to sanctions against Russia, support for Ukraine and strengthening Ukrainian defence.
“We have discussed at EU level, within the Coalition of the Willing and in our bilateral cooperation with Cyprus, that sanctions must be strengthened. A new package is being prepared. And many steps are being taken to target Russia’s shadow fleet, and this will pay off. Every dollar Russia loses is a dollar that does not feed the aggressor,” he said.
Zelenskyy also said it was extremely important for Ukraine to continue receiving support, both for its defence and its diplomacy, equally from all parts of Europe.
“That is why your support matters to us,” he said, referring among other things to Christodoulides’ recent visit to Ukraine.
Regarding the SAFE programme, Zelenskyy said the programme must prove its effectiveness this year.
“If it succeeds, Europe will become stronger. And to a large extent, this depends on your presidency. We hope that together with you — with Cyprus and with every EU country — we can work productively within the SAFE programme,” he said.
Wishing success to the Cyprus presidency, he expressed hope that “during these months Europe will become stronger and that people across our continent will feel that tomorrow can be safer, more stable and better than today”.
“I also deeply believe that together we can contribute to providing one of the most important guarantees of peace and security — for our nation and for all of Europe—with Ukraine’s accession to the European Union,” he concluded.
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