Ukraine Seeks EU Talks Under Cyprus Presidency

Ukraine expects the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the European Union to prioritize opening negotiation clusters for Ukraine and Moldova, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said during a ceremony marking the start of Cyprus’ term on Jan. 7, 2026.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine should become an equal part of the European community and welcomed Cyprus’ stated support for advancing the countries’ EU accession processes. He also said Kyiv expects implementation to begin this year of a €90 billion EU support package for Ukraine covering 2026 and 2027.

The Ukrainian president said negotiations aimed at ending Russia’s war had entered a new phase but called for continued pressure on Moscow. He urged stronger sanctions, further action against Russia’s shadow fleet and continued joint defense assistance to Ukraine.

Zelenskyy also expressed hope that the EU’s SAFE initiative would deliver results and support cooperation between Ukraine, Cyprus and other EU member states. He reiterated that Ukraine’s membership in the European Union would serve as a key guarantee of peace and security for Europe.