Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky presented to parliament members a long-awaited “victory plan” aimed at strengthening his country’s position enough to end the war with Russia.
Zelensky told parliament in Kiev that the plan could end the war that began with Russia’s full-scale occupation of Ukraine by February 2022 next year.
Key elements include a formal invitation to join NATO, allies lifting sanctions on long-range strikes inside Russia with Western-supplied weapons, refusing to trade Ukraine’s territories and sovereignty, and continuing incursions into Russia’s western Kursk region. .
The Kremlin rejected the plan, with a spokesman saying Kiev needed to be “calm”.
Addressing MPs on Wednesday, Zelensky criticized China, Iran and North Korea for supporting Russia, describing them as a “coalition of criminals”.
He said Russian President Vladimir Putin had “gone mad”, describing him as bent on waging wars.
Zelensky said he would present a winning plan at an EU summit on Thursday.
“We are at war with Russia on the battlefield, in international relations, in the economy, in the information sector, and in the hearts of the people,” he told parliament.
The plan outlined by Zelensky consists of five main points:
- Invitation to Ukraine to join NATO military alliance
- Including strengthening Ukrainian defenses against Russian forces, obtaining permission from allies to use their long-range weapons along Russian borders, and continuing Ukraine’s military operations on Russian territory to avoid creating “block zones” in Ukraine.
- Containment of Russia through a non-nuclear strategic deterrent package deployed on Ukrainian soil
- US and EU joint protection of Ukraine’s important natural resources and joint use of their economic potential
- Only for the post-war period: replacing some US troops stationed across Europe with Ukrainian soldiers
The three “additions” are secret and will be shared only with Ukraine’s partners, Zelensky said.
Zelensky’s plan Presented to US President Joe BidenAs well as presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, again in September.
The plan has also reportedly been shown to key allies such as Britain, France, Italy and Germany.
Last month, US officials were quoted by the Wall Street Journal as saying the Biden administration was concerned the plan lacked a comprehensive strategy and was little more than a repackaged request for more weapons and deregulation of long-term use. Range missiles.
Analysts in Ukraine and the West have said the White House is keen to show it wants to avoid further aggravation with Russia ahead of the US presidential election.
Zelensky’s conditions for peace are increasingly at odds with the situation around him.
In front of members of parliament, he acknowledged the growing fatigue in his country. “Success has become an uncomfortable word for some people and it’s not easy to achieve,” his own weariness was etched on his face.
National morale is gradually crumbling under the weight of a mounting death toll, a controversial demobilization law and endless Russian attacks on Ukrainian territory.
It is increasingly thought that any peace deal should involve giving up Ukrainian territory in exchange for security guarantees.
However, there was no hint of compromise to bring the war’s end closer. Instead, Zelensky doubled down on urging Russia to negotiate and not cede territory in Ukraine by strengthening its own military.
He said he could implement his comprehensive plan with the agreement of his allies, not Russia.
In public, Zelensky still sees the war as existential, and has warned Russian President Vladimir Putin of continuing to strengthen his position.
He also seemed to frame his vision as an investment opportunity for Western allies based on natural resources and economic potential.
The Ukrainian president wants his exhausted troops to keep fighting.
But because his military relies on Western aid, his “victory plan” will need the approval of the next US president.
Reacting to Zelensky’s plan, NATO’s new secretary-general, Mark Rutte, described it as a “strong signal” from Kiev.
“That doesn’t mean I can say here that I support the whole plan – that would be a bit difficult because there are so many issues that we need to understand better.”
Mr Rutte added: “I am confident that Ukraine will join us in the future [Nato].”
Soon after Zelensky finished speaking, the Kremlin rejected his “interim peace plan”, saying Kiev should be “calm”.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the only way for Ukraine to “realize the futility of the policy it is pursuing” is to end the war.
