Ukraine Hosts First Carpathian Summit

Ukraine hosted the first Carpathian Summit bringing together leaders and representatives from the region’s states, communities and institutions. In an address on Sept. 18, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the meeting launched a new “C8” format focused on closer regional cooperation and stronger ties with the European Union.

The summit in Ukraine’s Ivano-Frankivsk region included the presidents of Romania and Serbia, the prime minister of Poland, and representatives from Slovakia, Czechia and Austria. Hungarian representatives were expected to join the economic portion of the meeting, while European Union cooperation was also scheduled for discussion.

Zelenskyy said the Carpathian region could become a major platform for cooperation on security, energy, logistics and cross-border trade. He called for faster modernization of roads and railways, improved military mobility, expanded energy interconnections, additional storage facilities, renewable-energy development and stronger manufacturing and trade links.

The Ukrainian president also described the Carpathians as a potential gateway for routes connecting the South Caucasus and Asia with Central Europe through Black Sea ports. He said the region should receive greater attention and resources from EU policies, arguing that the Carpathian Initiative could strengthen ties among neighboring regions and support Ukraine’s path toward EU membership.