Zelenskyy Launches Carpathian Eight Initiative Amid Russian Strikes

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy launched the Carpathian Eight (C8) regional cooperation initiative during an inaugural summit in the Bukovel ski resort of Ukraine's Ivano-Frankivsk region on September 18, 2026. The grouping includes Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, Czechia, Austria, Hungary, and the European Union. The initiative focuses on deepening cooperation in security, energy, logistics, and infrastructure, with Zelenskyy announcing the preparation of investment and trade agreements worth 1 billion euros.

The summit occurred as Russia launched deadly strikes across Ukraine, killing people in the Zhytomyr and Kharkiv regions and destroying a shopping complex in Zaporizhzhia. Simultaneously, the Russian Defense Ministry claimed to intercept 629 Ukrainian drones over 14 Russian regions, including over 350 targeting Moscow. Amid these attacks, Ukraine received a 3.3 billion-euro financial tranche from the European Union to bolster defense capabilities.

Regional leaders addressed escalating security threats during the event. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced Poland's entry into an anti-ballistic missile coalition to develop a cheaper alternative to the US Patriot system. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen called for a Nato-like response mechanism to counter Russian hybrid threats. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation summoned the British charge d’affaires to protest UK weapons supplies, warning that British military facilities in Ukraine are legitimate targets.