Our bilateral relationship with the Republic of Cyprus emerges as a model of enduring solidarity and strategic synergy. Since my appointment in July 2025, I have been committed to elevating our partnership to new heights.  Looking ahead, Ukraine’s foreign policy outlines ambitious plans to strengthen this relationship across multiple fronts, fostering political dialogue, economic growth, cultural unity, and integration into European structures, while addressing shared challenges such as the deoccupation of Crimea and humanitarian support. On September 12, 2025, during the presentation of credentials ceremony at the Presidential Palace, I presented to H.E. President Nikos Christodoulides the Ten Commandments (Principles) of Strategic Partnership, outlining a roadmap to deepen bilateral ties. These principles, aligned with Cyprus’s upcoming Presidency of the Council of the European Union (January–June 2026), focus on political dialogue, economic growth, technological innovation, humanitarian support, and Ukraine’s EU integration, fostering a secure and prosperous Europe.

Enhancing Political Dialogue and Security Cooperation

A core pillar of Ukraine’s foreign policy toward Cyprus is to intensify political dialogue at all levels. We aim to institutionalize high-level visits, joint consultations on regional security, and collaboration within international organizations such as the United Nations and the EU Council.

Increased dialogue will also focus on cybersecurity and countering hybrid threats, ensuring our nations stand united against external challenges. To this end, Ukraine proposes exploring a bilateral security agreement within the EU and UN frameworks to enhance our collective resilience against external threats. This agreement would complement our joint efforts in cybersecurity and align with our shared security concerns in the Eastern Mediterranean and Black Sea regions. Through these engagements, we envision a robust platform for exchanging views on global issues, contributing to stability and peace in our regions. Additionally, we look forward to Cyprus’s 2026 EU Presidency to align positions on peace, sanctions policy, and Ukraine’s reconstruction, ensuring our partnership influences EU policies effectively.

Boosting Mutual Economic Ties and Reconstruction

Ukraine is keen to expand mutual trade with Cyprus, leveraging our complementary economies to drive post-war recovery and sustainable development. Bilateral trade has shown promising growth, surpassing €117,67 million for January-June 2025 (€105 million in 2024) despite ongoing Russian aggression and global disruptions. Ukraine’s exports to Cyprus primarily include agricultural products such as grains, oils, and metals, while imports from Cyprus encompass services in finance and shipping. Our goal is to double this figure in the coming years by diversifying exports—pairing Ukraine’s agricultural products, machinery, and metals with Cyprus’s strengths in services and logistics.

To facilitate this, we plan to implement targeted trade missions, reduce barriers through updated agreements, and promote joint ventures. We also encourage Ukrainian business relocation to Cyprus, leveraging Cyprus’s attractive tax incentives and its exclusion from Ukraine’s Transfer Pricing List to foster economic integration. Investment flows further highlight the potential: as of late 2021, Cyprus was Ukraine’s second-largest investor, with €19 billion in direct investments, representing 31.3% of total foreign inflows into Ukraine. Ukrainian investments in Cyprus totalled €231.7 million during the same period. Future policy will focus on attracting Cypriot capital into Ukraine’s reconstruction projects, particularly in infrastructure and green energy, through incentives like tax treaties and investment protection agreements. We specifically invite Cypriot financial contributions to Ukraine’s infrastructure projects, prioritizing Cypriot firms to participate in rebuilding efforts, ensuring mutual economic benefits.

We have a robust bilateral mechanism for developing practical interaction—the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Cypriot Commission on Economic, Scientific-Technical, and Industrial Cooperation—and a solid base of bilateral agreements. Considering Russia’s full-scale aggression and Ukraine’s EU accession negotiations, there is an urgent need to update the Commission’s agenda to identify new priority areas for bilateral dialogue.

Fostering Cooperation in the IT Sphere: Innovation as a Bridge

Ukraine’s foreign policy envisions robust cooperation with Cyprus in the information technology sector, leveraging Ukraine’s renowned IT ecosystem—home to over 200,000 specialists and a €7 billion industry—and Cyprus’s position as a Mediterranean tech hub. This collaboration is underpinned by the 2012 Agreement on Economic, Scientific, Technical, and Industrial Cooperation, which provides a framework for joint R&D and knowledge transfer. Areas of focus include fintech, cybersecurity, and digital governance, where Cyprus’s expertise in financial technology can complement Ukraine’s innovations in software development and blockchain. For instance, potential partnerships could involve co-developing cybersecurity solutions to counter hybrid threats.

We propose establishing joint startup incubators, exchange programs for IT professionals, and collaborative projects under the EU’s Digital Europe Programme. This cooperation extends to renewable energy and digital infrastructure, supported by the 2015 Memorandum on Energy Efficiency. By integrating Ukraine’s agile tech talent with Cyprus’s regulatory environment, we can position both nations as frontrunners in Europe’s digital transformation, creating jobs and enhancing competitiveness.

Realizing Major Economic Projects: The Ukrainian Agro Hub in Cyprus

One of the flagship initiatives in our foreign policy is the establishment of a Ukrainian Agro Hub on Cypriot territory, designed to serve as a gateway for Ukrainian agricultural exports to the Mediterranean and beyond. This hub will focus on the storage, processing, and distribution of grains, oils, and other Agro-products, capitalizing on Cyprus’s strategic location and port infrastructure. Through this project, we aim to enhance food security, create employment opportunities, and integrate Ukrainian agribusiness into global supply chains. Preliminary discussions with Cypriot stakeholders have been positive, and we anticipate breaking ground soon, with potential for expansion into sustainable agricultural and logistic capacities.

To support this initiative, we propose establishing logistics warehouses in Cyprus for Ukrainian exports, backed by war-risk insurance to mitigate challenges posed by ongoing conflicts. Cyprus’s expertise in shipping and finance will be instrumental in scaling this hub into a regional Agro-gateway, aligning with Ukraine’s post-war recovery strategy.

Humanitarian and Cultural Initiatives

Beyond economic and political cooperation, Ukraine seeks to deepen cultural and humanitarian ties with Cyprus. We propose the establishment of a Taras Shevchenko monument and park in Nicosia to symbolize the spiritual bond between Slavic and Mediterranean cultures, fostering cultural unity and mutual understanding. Additionally, we envision co-financing the Church of Saint Theodore Stratelates in Stare, Kyiv region, as a symbol of shared spiritual values, alongside supporting new premises for Ukraine’s Embassy to strengthen diplomatic ties.

On the humanitarian front, we propose creating humanitarian hubs in Cyprus to streamline aid delivery to Ukraine via transatlantic routes, leveraging Cyprus’s strategic location. Furthermore, in partnership with the First Ladies of Ukraine and Cyprus, we aim to establish a rehabilitation centre for Ukrainian children affected by aggression, supporting initiatives like “Bring Kids Back UA” to provide care and hope for Ukraine’s youth. These efforts reflect our commitment to addressing the human toll of the conflict and building a compassionate partnership.

Cyprus’s Support for Ukraine’s EU Integration

Ukraine deeply appreciates Cyprus’s consistent advocacy for our European aspirations. As an EU member state, Cyprus has endorsed Ukraine’s integration into key EU frameworks, including the Single Market, Schengen Area, Customs Union, Energy Union, and Single Digital Market. Our foreign policy prioritizes deepening this support through joint advocacy in Brussels, technical assistance for reforms, and alignment on EU policies. Cyprus’s contributions to EU initiatives for Ukraine’s governance and economic modernization underscore this commitment. We look forward to Cyprus playing a pivotal role in the EU Enlargement policy during its 2026 EU Presidency, sharing insights from its own EU journey to accelerate Ukraine’s accession process while addressing transitional challenges.

These plans reflect Ukraine’s proactive approach to foreign policy, grounded in mutual respect and shared values with Cyprus. By increasing political dialogue, trade, IT cooperation, and ambitious projects like the Agro Hub, while relying on Cyprus’s support for our EU path, we can forge a partnership that not only withstands current trials but thrives in the future. The incorporation of initiatives like the cultural landmarks, humanitarian hubs, and security agreements strengthens our vision for a dynamic partnership that addresses shared challenges and opportunities. Together, Ukraine and Cyprus will contribute to a more secure, prosperous Europe. I invite Cypriot leaders, businesses, and citizens to join us in this endeavour.

Slava Ukraini!

Glory to Cyprus!

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