Cyprus Takes EU Helm, Zelenskiy Attends Amid Ukraine War Focus

• Cyprus began its six-month European Union presidency on January 7, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ursula von der Leyen, and Antonio Costa attending.
• The presidency aims to bridge Europe and the Middle East, with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun present at the Nicosia ceremony.
• Zelenskiy expressed hope for Ukraine's EU membership progress and discussed security guarantees from a recent Paris meeting.
• Cyprus, drawing parallels to its 1974 invasion, fully backs sanctions on Russia and pledges Ukraine as a central priority.
• President Nikos Christodoulides reaffirmed commitment to Ukraine's sovereignty, highlighting shared experiences of invasion and occupation.

Why It Matters: Cyprus assumes the EU presidency, prioritizing Ukraine's sovereignty and EU integration amidst ongoing conflict.