Cyprus has invited Ukraine to participate in an informal meeting of EU culture ministers scheduled for March 2026, offering Kyiv a platform to address cultural heritage protection and integrate into EU policy frameworks despite its non-member status.
The invitation followed an online discussion between Ukraine's Minister of Culture, Tetiana Berezhna, and Cyprus's Deputy Minister of Culture, Dr. Vasiliki Kassianidou. The talks focused on preserving Ukraine's cultural heritage amid wartime challenges and fostering bilateral cooperation.
Key agenda items for the March meeting will include cultural rights and efforts to combat illicit trafficking in cultural property—issues with particular urgency for Ukraine given documented damage to heritage sites during Russia's ongoing invasion.
Cyprus's presidency opening ceremony on 1 January was attended by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, underlining the presidency's emphasis on EU-Ukraine ties and Ukraine's accession path.
Ukraine's EU candidacy, granted in June 2022 shortly after Russia's invasion, enables involvement in informal ministerial formats like this one.
For Ukraine, the March meeting offers an opportunity to present challenges facing its cultural sector, including systematic targeting of heritage sites, and to coordinate anti-trafficking measures with EU member states as looted artefacts increasingly appear in international markets.
Photo: Ministry of Culture of Ukraine
