President Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Cyprus on Wednesday for a series of high-level meetings, his spokesperson said, as the Mediterranean nation begins its presidency of the Council of the European Union.
The trip follows high-stakes talks in France on Tuesday, where Zelensky met with European leaders, US envoys, and key allies to finalize what officials called “robust” security guarantees for Ukraine as part of a potential peace deal.
In Paris, Ukraine, France, and the United Kingdom signed a declaration of intent to deploy a multinational force in Ukraine. The document was signed by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Zelensky.
Under the agreement, Britain and France plan to set up military hubs across Ukraine to enable boots on the ground if needed and to support post-war reconstruction.
For the first time, the United States has offered to back the force in case of an attack – a move European leaders have described as a potential game-changer.
In Cyprus, Zelensky is set to meet President Nikos Christodoulides and Archbishop Georgios before holding joint talks with European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Zelensky is also expected to attend the opening ceremony marking the start of Cyprus’s presidency of the Council of the European Union.
Christodoulides visited Ukraine in December, voicing support for continued sanctions pressure on Russia.