Cyprus is on “the right side of history” when it comes to Ukraine and firmly supports sanctions on Russia, while in the Middle East it is working to be “part of the solution, not the problem,” President Nikos Christodoulides said on Thursday during an official visit to Latvia.
The visit is part of a tour of the Baltic countries ahead of Cyprus’ EU Council presidency in the first half of 2026. Key topics on the agenda include Ukraine, the Middle East, bilateral relations, and Cyprus’ EU priorities.
In Riga on Thursday morning, Christodoulides was officially welcomed at Riga Castle by Latvian President Edgars Rinkevics. The two leaders held a private meeting, followed by expanded talks between the two delegations.
Rinkevics described the visit as “historic,” being the first official visit by a Cypriot president to Latvia. He praised Cyprus’ role in evacuating civilians from the Middle East and expressed his appreciation for its stance on Ukraine.
Christodoulides said Cyprus “knows very well about invasion, occupation, the violation of sovereignty and territorial integrity, of international law, and of human rights.”
“In the case of Ukraine, from the very beginning we were on the right side of history and will continue to be – fully supporting Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity,” he said.
He also reaffirmed Cyprus’ commitment to sanctions against Russia, saying they require full EU alignment.
On the Middle East, Christodoulides emphasised that Cyprus is “not part of the problem” but is working to be “part of the solution,” supporting international efforts to achieve a ceasefire.
“We do not believe war is the solution in this very difficult situation,” he said, adding that he would like to see “a much more active involvement of the European Union in the region.”
The Latvian president said both countries were “very close to the epicentre of military conflicts – we are closer to Ukraine and Cyprus has of course been directly affected by what is happening in the Middle East.”
He also said Cyprus and Latvia enjoyed close bilateral relations and expressed certainty that they would be “perfectly capable of working on different budget issues with the Cyprus presidency and also resolve other issues that are linked to the development of the European Union.”
He also voiced Latvia’s firm support for Cyprus joining the Schengen area.
“We do believe and are absolutely confident that it will only help promote tourism between our countries and economic ties between our countries. In this regard, I can only say that from our side we are ready to provide all necessary political and other support for this in the European Union when it comes to Cyprus joining Schengen area,” he added.
Rinkevics expressed his appreciation for “the position of Cyprus with regard to support to Ukraine which is currently fending off the aggressor.”
On the Middle East, he said Latvia was “fully behind the common position of the European Union”.
Christodoulides said Cyprus and Latvia “share more than meets the eye.”
“Two small countries, member states of the EU, at the frontiers of the European Union’s external border. Two member states that have endured foreign occupation – and in the case of Cyprus a member state that continues to endure the consequences of aggression, Turkey’s invasion and continuing occupation of European territory,” he explained.
He congratulated Latvia on its “historic election” to the UN Security Council for 2026–27 and said Cyprus counted on its support for Unficyp and efforts toward reunification.
Christodoulides briefed Rinkevics on developments in the Cyprus problem and efforts to resume negotiations.
Earlier, he signed the guest book at Riga Castle, writing: “As two countries that have suffered – and unfortunately Cyprus still continues to suffer – from foreign occupation, Cyprus and Latvia have always been strong supporters of a rules-based international order, with respect for international law at the forefront of their foreign policies.”
The president’s schedule on Thursday also included lunch with Latvian Prime Minister Evika Siliņa, and visits to the Freedom Monument, the Museum of the Occupation of Latvia, and the Nato Strategic Communications Centre of Excellence. An official dinner was hosted in his honour by the Latvian president.
Christodoulides is set to travel to Lithuania on Thursday evening, where on Friday he will meet President Gitanas Nauseda at the presidential palace in Vilnius for private talks and a working lunch.
Later on Friday, he will travel to Tallinn, Estonia, for meetings with Prime Minister Kristen Michal and President Alar Karis, joined by their respective delegations.
Christodoulides is expected to return to Cyprus on Friday evening.
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