KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed leaders and representatives from seven regional countries on Friday for talks on deeper cooperation, as overnight Russian strikes sparked fires and caused deaths and injuries in several parts of Ukraine.

The Associated Press reported that the meeting brought together the countries of the so-called Carpathian Eight: Ukraine, Romania, Serbia, Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, Austria and Hungary. The European Union was also involved in the regional framework, according to the AP account.

The summit is taking place under the shadow of continuing attacks. AP reported that Russian forces struck multiple regions overnight, while Ukrainian authorities described fires, deaths and injuries. A separate AP report said recent Russian missiles and drones had injured people in Kyiv and the surrounding region, alongside Ukrainian strikes on targets in Russia.

The diplomatic agenda is broader than one night of attacks. Ukraine is seeking stronger regional links on security, investment and reconstruction, while neighbouring states are balancing support for Kyiv with the risk that the war’s effects will spread through energy systems, infrastructure and trade routes.

The summit does not itself change the military balance, and the available reporting does not establish a new agreement with binding security guarantees. Its significance is more immediate and more practical: Ukraine is using a regional table to deepen cooperation while the war continues to produce fresh emergency demands outside the battlefield.

Reporting note: this article is based on the source record listed above and is current as of 18 September 2026, 16:50 BST. Figures, operational claims and casualty counts may change as authorities update their accounts.