Relationship dossier
Cyprus
Russia
Relationship assessment
Longstanding economic and diplomatic cooperation has been strained by the war in Ukraine and related sanctions.
Cyprus toward Russia
-20Cyprus aligned with European Union sanctions against Russia following the 2022 invasion of Ukraine and closed its airspace to Russian aircraft. These measures represent a significant shift from earlier economic cooperation, including a bilateral double-taxation treaty.
Russia toward Cyprus
-10Russia has supported Cyprus-related positions at the United Nations and maintained economic ties, including through a bilateral double-taxation treaty. After Cyprus aligned with EU measures against Russia, Russia designated Cyprus an “unfriendly” state and suspended provisions of tax treaties with countries in that category.
Overall relationship
-10The relationship combines a history of economic cooperation and Russian support for Cyprus-related positions at the United Nations with a sharp recent political rupture. Cyprus's alignment with EU sanctions and Russia's designation of Cyprus as an unfriendly state have weakened the cooperative structure, while the older bilateral ties remain part of the relationship's legacy.
How to read these scores
Scores are rough judgments, not objective measurements or current verification. Directional scores describe government policy and conduct, not public opinion. The overall score is an independent estimate, never an average.
- −100
- Extreme sustained hostility
- −50
- Substantially adversarial
- 0
- Mixed or neutral, supported by knowledge
- +50
- Substantially cooperative
- +100
- Exceptionally close sustained partnership
“Not assessed” means there is no recorded score. Pair existence makes no claim about diplomatic recognition or established relations.
Relationship context
Overview
Cyprus and Russia had longstanding economic and diplomatic cooperation, including a bilateral double-taxation treaty and Russian support for Cyprus-related positions at the United Nations. Relations deteriorated sharply after Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine: Cyprus aligned with EU sanctions and closed its airspace to Russian aircraft, while Russia designated Cyprus an “unfriendly” state. The relationship retains a history of cooperation but is now marked by substantial political friction.
Areas of tension
- Cyprus's alignment with EU sanctions against Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
- Cyprus's closure of its airspace to Russian aircraft.
- Russia's designation of Cyprus as an “unfriendly” state and related tax-treaty measures.
Key developments
Cyprus and Russia concluded a bilateral double-taxation treaty.
Cyprus aligned with EU sanctions against Russia following Russia's invasion of Ukraine and closed its airspace to Russian aircraft.
Russia designated Cyprus an “unfriendly” state.
Major uncertainties
- The extent of remaining bilateral economic cooperation after sanctions and Russian countermeasures is unclear.
- The practical effects of Russia's suspension of provisions in tax treaties with countries it classifies as unfriendly are uncertain.