Zelenskyy discusses Ukraine's European integration with Cypriot president

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has held a meeting with his Cypriot counterpart Nikos Christodoulides, whose country has begun its presidency of the Council of the EU.

Zelenskyy wrote on X that Ukraine will work to make maximum progress in opening negotiating clusters during the next six months of Cyprus's presidency of the Council of the EU.

"We discussed this today with the President of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides, and I am counting on productive cooperation. The president and I talked about strengthening sanctions against Russia, which must remain in place as long as Russia's aggression and occupation continue," Zelenskyy said.

The leaders also discussed strengthening air defence, the production and supply of drones and Cyprus's participation in Ukraine support programmes PURL and SAFE.

On 7 January, Zelenskyy arrived in Cyprus, which is beginning its term holding the Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Earlier, Christodoulides promised that his country will make support for Ukraine a priority of its presidency of the Council of the EU.