13 things we learned at the EU summit in Cyprus

From talks on Ukraine and defense to clever kids and digs at Viktor Orbán, here’s POLITICO’s rundown of the latest European Council.

NICOSIA, Cyprus — EU leaders are used to meeting in the *cough* glamorous surroundings of Brussels. This time, they got to enjoy the Mediterranean sunshine of Cyprus, as well as not having to deal with Hungary’s Viktor Orbán, who decided not to show in the wake of his election defeat.

Here’s POLITICO’s rapid round-up of what we learned at the European Council.

1. Ukraine’s uncertain EU future

Even without Viktor Orbán to veto the idea, there are still major divides within the EU over Ukraine’s future membership. Even Croatia, a Ukraine ally, flatly rejected the idea of Kyiv joining by the end of the year. “I don’t think it’s realistic that it’ll happen on the first of January ’27,” Croatian Prime Minister Andrej Plenković said. Of course, Volodymyr Zelenskyy thinks differently, saying: “We are defending shared European values. I believe we deserve full membership in the European Union.”

2. A post-Viktor world

Lots of leaders seemed optimistic about a Council without Viktor Orbán. His old sparring partner, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Orbán lost the Hungarian election because he was hateful. “You can’t increase the [hatred] to your neighbors,” the Ukrainian president said. “We see the result.”

3. However, no Magyar talks yet

Zelenskyy said he hasn’t yet spoken to Péter Magyar, who toppled Orbán earlier this month. The Ukrainian said Kyiv is ready for talks anytime.

4. Nudge nudge, wink wink

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk told reporters there was “huge relief” among EU leaders because, “for the first time in years, there are no Russians in the room” — before winking at journalists as his Kremlin-friendly Slovak counterpart Robert Fico strolled past. “No, no, it’s a joke,” Tusk quickly added. Maybe it was.

5. Different location, same protesting farmers

Cypriot farmers disrupted the summit preparations as they took to the streets on Thursday, shutting roads and briefly blocking Larnaca airport. The farmers were protesting the strict measures to contain the fast spread of foot-and-mouth disease, which includes mass culling of their flocks. The EU Quarter of Brussels, of course, is regularly the scene of mass protests by farmers.

6. 15 minutes of fame?

A talk with European Parliament President Roberta Metsola before Friday’s session lasted just 15 minutes, according to one EU official, before she left the room and leaders began to discuss the next EU budget. That’s a very short amount of time if you’ve walked from the Parliament to the Council in Brussels, but it seems rather wasteful if you’ve flown for 4 hours.

7. Menu pays tribute

The menu that the EU leaders feasted on Thursday and Friday was created by Cypriot chef Andreas Mavromatis, who passed away suddenly a few weeks ago. His brothers prepared the dishes in his honor. For lunch on Friday, the leaders ate Royal Sea Bream tartare, farm veal and pistachio tart.

8. Italy doesn’t want to pay for Brussels building work

Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni isn’t happy about plans to renovate the Justus Lipsius building in Brussels (that’s the building just off the Schuman roundabout that looks like a 1970s leisure center and is next to the giant glass egg building). “We cannot propose renovating the European Council’s headquarters at a cost of €800 million. This is something Italy cannot afford, and it would send the wrong message to citizens,” Meloni said while in Cyprus.

9. Mutual defense needs work

Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said the EU’s mutual defense clause, Article 42.7, needs some gaming out if it’s going to work properly in practice. “The treaty is very clear about the what,” von der Leyen said, explaining member countries are obligated to come to each other’s aid. “The treaty is not clear about what happens when and who does what.”

10. Kids say the smartest things

As he spoke with students under the shade of a tree at Nicosia Franco-Cypriot school, one of the kids (perhaps an undercover reporter) asked French President Emmanuel Macron a question that broke news. Answering why he decided he wanted to become French president, Macron went through his bio and concluded by saying: “It is a matter of passion, it was not a career plan. I haven’t done politics before, and I will not do it after.”

That comment left everyone wondering whether Macron will leave politics after the end of his term in 2027. Under the French constitution, Macron can’t run for president next year — but he could run again in 2032 or look for another job in politics. The French leader declined to clarify his comment to reporters.

11. It’s better than Brussels …

Under the beating Mediterranean sun on Thursday, Europe’s heads of state walked down a palm tree-lined red carpet, past very fancy yachts — and Cypriot military speedboats armed with machine guns — to take their seats inside the conical glass event center at Ayia Napa Marina.

12. … but EU shadows always loom

The first day of the leaders’ summit took place at Ayia Napa Marina in southeastern Cyprus. Investment in the marina allowed some non-EU investors to access Cyprus’ infamous citizenship-by-investment program, often referred to as the “golden passport” scheme. The program was abolished in 2025, and as a result, many of the apartments in the tower — as well as many of the luxury villas — remain empty. The European Commission officially closed its infringement case against Cyprus over the plan in March 2026.

13. Say what?

Addressing reporters after Syria and Lebanon’s leaders left the room, European Council President António Costa stumbled over the pronunciation of Ayia Napa. “Yesterday in … Ayaya?” he said. “Ayia Napa,” Cyprus’ president corrected, sending laughter rippling through the room.

Gabriel Gavin and Jacopo Barigazzi contributed reporting from Cyprus.