“We have launched work on the Carpathian Initiative. This is a new initiative. Why did this idea emerge? Because not all countries are ready to strengthen us with weapons, but they want to cooperate in humanitarian efforts, security, and the economy. They are also thinking about Ukraine’s reconstruction,” he said, RBC-Ukraine reported.
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According to the president, when neighboring countries are thinking about reconstruction, it is also “a sign of confidence in Ukraine and in a peaceful future.”
“The Carpathian Initiative brings together countries connected not only geopolitically or as neighbors. These are countries that share economic and security interests and are linked by the magnificent Carpathian Mountains. It is about logistics, the economy, and security. We also see opportunities for cultural cooperation and future tourism,” Zelenskyy said.
The president added that the idea had been “very well received” by the presidents of the European Council and the European Commission. According to him, the format will be officially launched this fall, and discussions on dates are already underway.
“We have seen a positive signal from the European Union. In the future, we will need dedicated Carpathian programs for financing, tourism, economic development, and security. And again, this is not only about the Ukrainian Carpathians. It also involves Romania, Austria, Serbia, Hungary, Poland, Czechia, Slovakia, and Ukraine,” he stressed.
According to Zelenskyy, the Carpathian Initiative is something “around which all of us can unite.”
Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that negotiations between Ukraine and Russia could gain new momentum in the near future, noting that new diplomatic initiatives are currently being prepared.
At the same time, sources familiar with the matter told RBC-Ukraine that the prospects for ending the war through negotiations this year remain extremely slim. According to the sources, none of the peace initiatives currently under discussion are acceptable to either Kyiv or Moscow.
