Christodoulides made several important statements during the discussion, addressing issues ranging from the Cyprus problem and EU-Turkey relations to developments in the Middle East.

He drew a parallel between Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and Turkey’s 1974 invasion of Cyprus, reiterating once again his readiness to resume negotiations from the point where they were left off at Crans-Montana.

The President stressed that Brussels must take an active role in the negotiation process, noting that the EU could offer incentives to Turkey that might help pave the way toward a viable solution to the Cyprus issue.

Turning to developments in the Middle East, Christodoulides highlighted the need for the European Union to find a way to cooperate with U.S. President Donald Trump. He argued that closer alignment with Trump’s administration would allow Europe to maintain its position as a global power.

He described President Trump as “the man who resolved the Iran-Israel crisis and brought peace to Gaza,” referring to a plan that, while not perfect, “effectively addressed the problem.”

Christodoulides also referred to Cyprus’ ongoing support for Trump’s peace plan and the Amalthea Initiative, reaffirming that one of the main goals of the upcoming Cypriot Presidency of the Council of the European Union is to strengthen ties between the EU and the countries of the broader region.

Finally, he mentioned several major infrastructure projects designed to act as bridges between Europe and the Middle East — including the electricity interconnection and the India-Middle East-Europe Corridor (IMEC), which will connect India with the Middle East and Europe.