Zelensky announces launch of new Carpathian Eight initiative

The Ukrainian President made the announcement during the first session of the inaugural Carpathian Eight Summit, an Ukrinform correspondent reports.

“We are launching a new format – “C8,” the Carpathian Eight – bringing together us and our neighbors in Europe,” Zelensky said.

He added that a summit of this level, bringing together all the Carpathian states, is being held for the first time in the Ukrainian part of the Carpathians, in the Ivano-Frankivsk region.

According to the President, the new initiative will help expand logistics, cross-border economic cooperation, and provide substantial support to local communities.

“I am very pleased to welcome here, in our Ukrainian Carpathians, the Presidents of Romania and Serbia, the Prime Minister of Poland, and representatives of Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Austria – Madam President [President of the Federal Council of the Republic of Austria, Christine Schwarz-Fuchs – ed.],” the head of state said, adding that representatives of Hungary would join the Summit later.

Zelensky also said that representatives of the European Union would take part in the Summit.

Thus, the C8 comprises Ukraine, Romania, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, the Czech Republic, Austria and Serbia.

As reported by Ukrinform, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that this autumn, Ukraine, together with the EU and countries that share common security interests and are connected by the Carpathians, would launch the Carpathian Initiative.