President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with participants of the Youth Congress of the Carpathian Integration Initiative (CII), held today in the Ivano-Frankivsk region. Around 250 young people from the Carpathian regions of Ukraine, Romania, Hungary, Czechia, Slovakia, Poland, and Austria took part in the event.

“I’m very glad that we have this kind of youth engagement, because the Carpathian Initiative is about the future and development. And development is first and foremost about strong, vibrant, energetic people – our young people. So it is clear that youth is an important part of the Carpathian Initiative,” the Head of State said.

During the conversation, the President spoke about Ukraine’s relations with its neighbors, particularly Poland and Hungary. The Head of State emphasized that Ukraine and Poland are friends because, above all, they share common values. According to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, developing joint production, making mutual investments, and taking part in Ukraine’s post-war recovery will bring the two countries even closer. In the President’s view, it is important to build as many bridges as possible with Hungary to bring our countries closer, both at the political level and at the level of people-to-people ties.

The participants also discussed national communities and issues relevant to all countries of the Carpathian region. The Head of State believes that people should be proud that their country is home to many different communities, each of which makes its own cultural, historical, and linguistic contribution.

“We need to work to ensure that there are no problems for national minorities in Ukraine or for Ukrainians who are now minorities in other countries, in our neighboring countries. Because these are the same challenges, the same issues,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasized.

The participants also discussed the return home of young Ukrainians who left the country because of the war. Volodymyr Zelenskyy noted that whether to return or not is a personal choice for each individual. But, in the President’s view, the opportunity to return will depend on security, the economy, and love for Ukraine.

“Security and the economy are priorities. When the war ends, I’m confident that people will return. It will depend on how they were raised, on parents who made sure their children did not forget Ukraine. And, of course, it will depend on rebuilding the country, the conditions for doing business, and jobs – on whether people can find themselves, find a place for themselves. The war came, and everyone made their own choice. This was especially true in the first days of the war. And I think each person will likewise make their own choice in the first days after the war ends. Everyone needs to work to bring the war to an end,” the Head of State said.

The participants also discussed favorable government programs that help young people purchase their own homes. According to the President, Ukraine has many such programs for students, young families, Ukraine’s defenders and veterans, and their families. It is important for the Cabinet of Ministers to communicate more actively about these programs. Work is also underway to increase the number of places in student dormitories and improve living conditions there. The Government has already adopted a program to restore student dormitories, and the Ministry of Education and Science must now work with local communities to implement it.