The president is the main figure and special guest as the heads of state and government of the EU countries gather for a summit in the fashionable marina in the seaside resort of Ayia Napa in Cyprus.
"It's a good day," says a smiling Council President António Costa about the formal decisions that have now been made on an emergency loan of almost 1,000 billion kronor to help the country through 2026 and 2027. "And also for a 20th sanctions package to hit the Russian war economy even harder."
Terrible winter
Zelenskyy is satisfied - and clearly tired.
"We've had a very difficult, a terrible winter with all these attacks. Our energy system has been under massive attack," the president said.
Zelenskyy now hopes that the EU countries can move forward and also agree on a third difficult issue that has long been blocked by Hungary's outgoing government: the one concerning the actual commencement of membership negotiations with the EU.
"We are ready to open the negotiation chapters. I believe that the EU is also ready to support us in that," Zelenskyy said.
Swedish support is promised
Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson (M) agrees.
"Now they can move forward in a long and arduous but very clear process towards Ukrainian EU membership, without a doubt. Then we'll see how fast it can go," Kristersson says on his way to the meeting in Ayia Napa.
"Germany is now pushing for a clear process that we will discuss here tonight and tomorrow. Sweden will absolutely be a very constructive party to make that process as short as possible," Kristersson promises.
His Danish colleague Mette Frederiksen is on the same page, but also emphasizes the importance of bringing Ukraine as close to Europe as possible in the meantime.
"I think we should see it as an asset that we stick to the merit-based approach, but at the same time bring Ukraine as close to Europe as possible," says Frederiksen.
No completion date
The solution could be some form of political association as early as 2027, but Ukraine would have to wait longer for full legal and economic membership.
However, no decision on Ukraine will be made at the summit in Cyprus. And Ulf Kristersson does not believe in setting a date in advance for when Ukraine can join.
"We are careful that there are conditions that must be met," the prime minister said in Ayia Napa.
Facts: EU summit in Cyprus
The heads of state and government of the EU countries are meeting this week for a two-day informal summit in Cyprus, which holds the spring presidency of the Council of Ministers.
On Thursday evening's agenda in Ayia Napa was a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as well as dinner talks about the situation in the Middle East and the ongoing energy crisis.
Friday's program in Nicosia consists of a longer discussion on the next long-term budget for the years 2028–2034 and a working lunch with leaders from Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC).
