President Nikos Christodoulides arrived in Vilnius, Lithuania on Friday as part of a multi-country trip ahead of Cyprus assuming the Presidency of the Council of the European Union (EU) in the first half of 2026.

He was received at the presidential palace by President Gitanas Nauseda. During the official reception, a military band paid tribute, while the national anthems of Cyprus and Lithuania were played.

Christodoulides then signed the official guest book.

He said it was a “great honour” to be the first President of Cyprus to pay a bilateral visit to the Lithuania at the invitation of its president and was looking forward to further strengthening ties between the two countries.

“I am convinced that the bonds of friendship and cooperation between our two countries will continue to strengthen, based on our shared commitment to international law. As EU Member States, we are united in promoting peace, stability and prosperity for our entire continent, rejecting revisionism and aggression,” Christodoulides said.

The two presidents then had a private meeting and are expected to make statement afterwards before sitting down to a working lunch.

The president is accompanied by deputy minister for European Affairs Marilena Rauna, deputy government spokesperson Yiannis Antoniou and other officials. 

In the afternoon, Christodoulides will travel from Vilnius to Tallinn, Estonia. On Thursday he was in Latvia.