50+ deals worth €1 billion: Zelenskyy reveals results of Carpathian 8 summit
Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the Carpathian 8 summit (photo: t.me/V_Zelenskiy_official)
Dozens of agreements worth more than 1 billion euros have been prepared for signing following the Carpathian 8 summit, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
"For the first time, the Carpathian macroregion is presenting itself as a single market with a single investment portfolio. More than 50 agreements worth over 1 billion euros have also been prepared for signing today. And this is just the beginning," the head of state said.
About half of the investment portfolio focuses on the energy sector. Key areas include solar and wind power, energy storage systems, new interconnectors, and using Ukraine's extensive underground gas storage facilities.
The region also proposes creating a Carpathian wind energy cluster with a capacity of 1.5 gigawatts.
"The Carpathians can become an energy supplier to the European Union rather than simply a transit region. This directly supports Europe's goal of energy independence from Russia," Zelenskyy stressed.
Carpathian 8 details
As previously reported, Volodymyr Zelenskyy today announced the creation of a new cooperation format—the Carpathian 8 (C8). The initiative is designed to strengthen cooperation among countries in the region in security, energy, and the economy.
The head of state said the summit of Carpathian countries is being held in Ukraine for the first time. Representatives of regions and communities from neighboring countries are taking part.
Zelenskyy said the new format should help bring the region's countries closer together and provide an additional platform to address pressing issues jointly.
RBC-Ukraine, citing sources, reported that Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had been expected to attend the summit, but his visit was canceled at the last minute.
