Anastasiades reiterates Cyprus support for Ukrainian refugees

Cyprus, itself a victim of foreign invasion and occupation, fully understands the plight of Ukraine and its people, President Nicos Anastasiades told his EU counterparts during a dinner on Thursday night on the sidelines of the informal EU summit convened by France at Versailles.

It is crucial that the international community works to ensure a ceasefire as soon as possible to end the bloodshed and open the road to negotiations, he added, noting at the same time that EU-candidate country Turkey was refusing to adopt sanctions against Russia.

Government spokesman Marios Pelekanos said that during the dinner EU leaders had discussed the situation in Ukraine, with Anastasiades once again condemning the continued Russian invasion of the country and underlining Cyprus’ support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

As a victim of invasion and occupation, and living under constant threats from Turkey, Cyprus fully understands the plight of Ukraine and its people, especially civilians and refugees, he said.

Despite the impact on their economy because of the sanctions, EU member states said they were committed to international law. Yet Turkey, an EU candidate country, was refusing to fall in line but was exploiting the situation economically, thereby undermining the effectiveness of the sanctions, the president told EU leaders.

Regarding refugees from Ukraine, the president said that more than 3,000 have already come to Cyprus which also supports efforts to ensure humanitarian aid. To this end Cyprus had sent the first batch of aid, including food, medicine and civil protection equipment and made a symbolic monetary contribution.