The countries of the Carpathian region have significant potential for cooperation in defense, energy, and transport, which can deliver real economic growth, investment, and jobs. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy said this during the first Carpathian Economic Forum, which he attended together with President of Romania Nicușor Dan.

And we have here almost 1,400 participants. More than 800 representatives of governments, regions and communities, and more than 500 business representatives from all C8 countries. My congratulations. And this is the first summit of this scale for our macro-region.

Ukraine has launched a new cooperation format – the Carpathian Integration Initiative that brings together all Carpathian countries, their regions, and communities across the Carpathian Mountains to facilitate cooperation at the macro-regional level.

During the Carpathian Summit, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy held separate bilateral meetings with President of Romania Nicușor Dan, President of Serbia Aleksandar Vučić, and Prime Minister of Poland Donald Tusk.

We are convinced that the successful implementation of the Carpathian Integration Initiative will strengthen the stability and resilience of the countries in the region and become an important additional contribution to joint efforts to ensure lasting peace on the European continent.

The first plenary session of the Carpathian Summit was held in Huta, Ivano-Frankivsk region. Ukraine has launched the Carpathian Integration Initiative to deepen cooperation with the countries connected by the Carpathian Mountains.

We already cooperate extensively on our defense. As you know, we work together in energy and on export and import routes – this is very important. Logistics is one of our key priorities, especially during the war. We also work together on humanitarian issues, in supporting people and communities, and in our cooperation at the European Union level.