Ukraine launches Carpathian Eight regional alliance with EU neighbors

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky launched a new regional cooperation format on September 18, 2026, bringing together seven European countries and the European Union in a grouping called the Carpathian Eight (C8). The inaugural summit was held in western Ukraine's Ivano-Frankivsk region, with leaders from Poland, Romania, Serbia, and other participating nations in attendance. The C8 includes Ukraine, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Romania, and Serbia, with the European Union participating as a bloc. Zelensky described the initiative as the beginning of a broader regional movement aimed at strengthening ties between the countries and creating an additional framework for cooperation at the EU level. According to Zelensky, the C8 will focus on several key areas, including security, energy, logistics, cross-border economic cooperation, and support for local communities. He emphasized that security issues are a priority for the region, particularly given the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. The format is also intended to bolster trade and transport links that have been maintained by regional allies since the full-scale invasion began in 2022.