--- title: "Ukraine launches the 'Carpathian Eight': Zelensky announces new C8 format for regional security and energy" description: "Ukraine has launched a new cooperation format, the “Carpathian Eight” (C8), bringing together eight participants from the Carpathian region. Zelensky named security, energy, logistics, and support for communities as the priorities." date: 2026-09-18T09:34:01.000Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/carpathian-eight-c8-zelensky tags: [karpatska-vosmerka, c8-summit, ukraine, regional-cooperation, zelensky] publisher: "XAB.info" --- # Ukraine launches the 'Carpathian Eight': Zelensky announces new C8 format for regional security and energy ![Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the launch ceremony of the 'Carpathian Eight' (C8) format](https://xab.info/media/2026/09/19/karpatskaya-vosmerka-c8-zelenskiy/karpatskaya-vosmerka-c8-zelenskiy-1.webp) ## 🎯 Key Points - Ukraine held its first summit of Carpathian states and launched the “Carpathian Eight” (C8) format. - The format brings together eight participants — regions and communities of the neighboring countries of the Carpathian region. - C8 priorities: security, energy, expanding logistics, cross-border economic cooperation, and support for communities. - The launch of the format coincided with Zelensky's statements about preparing negotiations with the US and about China's, in his assessment, non-neutral position. In Ukraine, the first summit of Carpathian states has been held, at which President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the launch of a new cooperation format called the “Carpathian Eight” (C8). According to the head of state, the platform brings together eight participants — regions and communities of the neighboring countries of the Carpathian region — and is intended to become a tool for bringing states closer together and solving common tasks. RBC-Ukraine reports this, citing the president's statement. ### What is the “Carpathian Eight” The C8 format is positioned not as a classic interstate alliance with a rigid charter, but as a new platform for interaction at the regional and local community level. Zelensky emphasized that the summit is being held on Ukrainian territory for the first time and that the creation of the alliance should form “yet another strong element of interaction” within the European space. Thus, Kyiv is betting on subnational and regional-level cooperation as a complement to existing political and military mechanisms. ### Priorities: security, energy, logistics The president's statement lists the key areas of work for the format: ensuring security, developing the energy sector, significantly expanding logistics and cross-border economic cooperation, as well as substantial support for local communities. Zelensky called the launch of C8 “a serious start to the movement,” which, in his assessment, should bring the participating countries even closer together and create a sustainable framework for joint projects amid ongoing challenges for the region. ### Context: negotiations with the US and the position on China The announcement of the new format came against the backdrop of other statements by the president. Zelensky had previously noted that China does not adhere to a neutral position in Russia's war against Ukraine, and warned of possible consequences for the security of East Asia in the event of deepening cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. In parallel, the head of state reported that Kyiv is preparing for negotiations with US representatives, which, in his words, should strengthen Ukraine's position in the confrontation with Russia. In this context, the launch of C8 appears as an element of a broader strategy of diversifying partnerships and strengthening the regional rear. ### The significance of the format for the region The “Carpathian Eight” could become a notable institutional innovation for Central Europe, as it links within a single framework the issues of security, energy, and logistics, which were previously addressed mainly in a bilateral or European-framework manner. The success of the format will depend on how concrete the mechanisms for implementing the stated priorities turn out to be and whether the declarative “serious start” can be turned into working projects with measurable results for the communities and economies of the participating regions. ## 🔍 Fact-Check Verification - [Zelensky announces the creation of the “Carpathian Eight”: which countries joined](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/zelenskiy-ogolosiv-stvorennya-karpatskoyi-1789723587.html) - Подтверждает объявление Зеленского о создании формата C8 и саммит карпатских государств в Украине. - [C8 summit kicks off in Ukraine: Zelensky announces the creation of the Carpathian Eight](https://fakty.com.ua/ru/ukraine/20260918-v-ukrayini-startuvav-samit-c8-zelenskyj-ogolosyv-pro-stvorennya-karpatskoyi-visimky/) - Подтверждает старт саммита C8 и заявление президента о создании формата. - [A new alliance of eight countries emerges in Europe — the “Carpathian Eight” (C8) — Zelensky](https://gazeta.ua/ru/articles/politics/_v-evrope-poyavlyaetsya-novyj-soyuz-iz-vosmi-stran-karpatskaya-vosmerka-c8-zelenskij/1258935) - Подтверждает число участников (восемь) и региональный характер формата. - [Ukraine launches C8 format with neighbors: what the Carpathian Eight is for](https://hvylya.net/news/329124-ukraina-zapustila-format-c8-s-sosedyami-zachem-nuzhna-karpatskaya-vosmerka) - Подтверждает запуск формата C8 с соседними странами и его цели. ## ❓ FAQ ### Q: What is the “Carpathian Eight” (C8)? **A:** It is a new cooperation format announced by President Zelensky, which brings together eight participants — regions and communities of the neighboring countries of the Carpathian region. The format is aimed at bringing countries closer together and solving common tasks in the areas of security, energy, logistics, and economy. ### Q: What are the priorities of the C8 format? **A:** According to Zelensky's statement, the priorities are ensuring security, developing the energy sector, significantly expanding logistics and cross-border economic cooperation, as well as substantial support for local communities. ### Q: Where and when was the first C8 summit held? **A:** The summit of Carpathian states was held for the first time on Ukrainian territory; President Volodymyr Zelensky announced the launch of the format.