On Tuesday, members of the Cypriot parliament met with Ukrainian prisoners of war. These men were recently freed from captivity. This meeting was a strong symbol of support. It happened in Nicosia, the capital city of Cyprus. The Republic of Cyprus strongly supports Ukraine's independence and land.
The former prisoners bravely told their difficult stories. They spoke about their time in captivity. Cypriot lawmakers clearly stated their country's strong disapproval of Russia's actions. They condemned the ongoing war.
A group of important Cypriot politicians was there. Haris Georgiades, the head of the foreign affairs committee, was part of the talks. They spoke with Volodymyr Mykolaienko. He used to be the mayor of Kherson. Dmytro Khilyuk, a journalist, was also there. He was held for a long time. A Ukrainian group also came. Yulia Pavliuk led this group. She works for Ukraine's prisoner of war centre.
The meeting showed the terrible human cost of the war. This is happening four years after Russia's invasion.
The Ukrainian representatives gave important information. They spoke about the worrying situation for prisoners of war. Mr. Mykolaienko and Mr. Khilyuk described their suffering. They talked about the bad living conditions in occupied cities. Their stories showed the big humanitarian problems.
Mr. Georgiades explained why Cyprus supports Ukraine. He said it is a moral duty. Cyprus understands the pain of illegal occupation. It also knows the sadness of missing people. He compared it to Cyprus's own history. He said, "Cyprus has a moral duty to stand with Ukraine." This is because Cyprus also faces illegal occupation.
The talks also showed problems Ukraine has. It is hard to get true information about detained citizens. The Ukrainian group found it difficult to talk to their people. They also want humane treatment for prisoners. This meeting was organized by the Ukrainian embassy. It wanted to make people aware of prisoners' suffering. It asked for their quick release.
The presence of Cypriot leaders shows their strong relationship with Ukraine. This meeting gave political support to Ukraine. It made sure lawmakers understood the experiences of those affected by the war. The politicians felt deep sympathy. They promised to keep helping Ukraine internationally. They will focus on prisoners of war and humanitarian issues.