Zelensky reveals ‘victory plan,’ calls for urgent NATO membership
Western response to the plan has been tepid. It includes permission for air strikes in Russia as well as assistance with air defences.
The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky described his five-point victory plan to Ukraine’s legislators on Wednesday. He said the first step was an unconditional and immediate invitation to join NATO, and the final step was an offer to replace U.S. soldiers in Europe with Ukrainian troops after the war. These suggestions are sure to enrage the Kremlin which has used NATO as a justification for its invasion.
It is unclear whether Zelensky’s recommendations were accepted. The plan was already shared with Ukraine’s allies, but little public commentary has been made about it. As a member of NATO, Ukraine would be protected by the other members of the alliance in the event of a future attack.
Zelensky stated that the second part of the plan is to permanently strengthen Ukraine’s security by obtaining guarantees from partners, that their weapons could be used in strikes against Russia, and that Ukraine’s neighbors would conduct joint air defence operations to protect Ukraine’s skies. He said that it would also allow Ukraine to continue operations on sovereign Russian soil in order to create buffer zones.
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He said that the third plan is a non-nuclear deterrence, while the fourth ensures economic security and protects Ukrainian natural resources. This will strengthen Ukraine’s allies and weaken Russia’s economy and “war machine.”
Zelensky stated that the five points included three classified sections. One of these was related to a deterrence section which had already been shared with U.S. British, German French and Italian partners.
Zelensky stated that if this plan is successfully implemented, it could end Russia’s conflict in Ukraine by the end of next year. Zelensky stated that Russian President Vladimir Putin must “see that his geopolitical calculaions are doomed” in order to understand the consequences. Zelensky said that “Russians should feel that their czar is losing geopolitically.”
Dmitry Peskov, Kremlin spokesperson, dismissed the plan. Peskov said Kyiv must admit that its policy was futile, “wake up, and understand the reasons for this conflict.” Maria Zakharova is a spokeswoman from Russia’s Foreign Ministry. She accused Zelensky “of pushing NATO into direct war with our country.”
“The partners in the Kyiv regime’s security architecture have already shown how they view Ukraine: They see Ukraine as a coffin, and Ukrainian citizens as graves,” she said.
Zelensky presented the plan after trips to the United States where he discussed it with President Joe Biden, presidential candidates Kamala Harriman and Donald Trump and in various European capitals where he briefed key partners.
Since weeks, he has been saying that the success or failure of the plan is entirely dependent on the partners in Ukraine. He said that he would use the visit to convince Biden of the importance of leaving office with a legacy for a “just” peace for Ukraine.
The visits have not produced any public progress, but the cautious approach has prevailed. In the United States, the presidential campaign is in its final weeks, while many Europeans are anxiously awaiting the results of the November elections.
Biden is scheduled to visit Germany on Friday, where Scholz stated that they would have many things to discuss. Scholz said, “We must understand how the war won’t last forever.” Scholz said: “No decisions will be made above Ukraine’s head.”
The White House announced Wednesday that Biden spoke with Zelensky via phone and provided an update regarding U.S. efforts in order to increase security assistance for Ukraine. U.S. officials announced in a press release that a new $425 million package will include antiaircraft missiles for Ukraine, artillery rounds and anti-armor weaponry, Humvees, among other things.
Mark Rutte, NATO Secretary general, told reporters on Wednesday that “we are very aware of all the elements of victory plan… and we’re in close contact with our allies and Ukraine to find out what we can do next.”
“I am convinced that Ukraine will one day be a NATO member, and will applaud that day.” He said that it is up to allies to decide how to move forward.
Zelensky presented the plan to the public as Ukraine prepared for a harsh winter. Over the past few months, Russia has been destroying Ukraine’s energy infrastructure causing blackouts. As temperatures drop and heating season approaches, the country is preparing for further power outages.
In the meantime, Russian forces advance on the eastern cities Pokrovsk where the majority of civilians has evacuated and Toretsk where Russian attacks are non-stop have destroyed most of the town.
It is still unclear what the results will be of Ukraine’s August gamble on attacking Russia’s Kursk Region. Even though Ukraine still controls a significant amount of land in the region, many have questioned Kyiv’s decision to send troops there instead of the besieged towns inside the country.
Solomiia Robertska, a Ukrainian lawmaker from Holos, an opposition liberal party, said Zelensky’s plan demonstrated what Ukraine’s allies needed to do. However, she expressed doubts about their response.
She said: “Unfortunately, it seems that the U.S. has not been very receptive to this plan.” She was referring to the political paralysis in the lead-up to the presidential elections next month. “Biden can make a historic decision with the invitation and long-range weapons.”
Oleksiy Goncharenko, a lawmaker from the European Solidarity Party of opposition, wrote on X about Zelensky’s wishes and not a plan. “A plan must be realistic. What is realistic?
He added that the partners did not seem to be ready to take the steps described by the president.
Roman Kostenko, of Holos, told The Washington Post he was expecting Zelensky to address Ukrainians more specifically “about their role and motivation in this plan”.
He said that “strategically correct things were expressed, and we must move in this direction”, adding that he could not give a complete assessment until he had reviewed the classified materials.
Senior NATO officials said that Rustem Umerov, the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, will “shed more light on victory plan” during a dinner on Thursday with NATO defense ministers.
The official added that he would not bet on any invitation to NATO anytime soon. The new American administration’s view will be key, but there are more serious discussions.
Zelensky added that NATO membership was the key to the plan, as he knew it would be the only way Ukraine could be secure. “This is also complicated since Putin has star
