Ukrainian president presents 'victory plan' to NATO and EU

(CLO) Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will continue to present his "victory plan" consisting of 5 main points and 3 secret appendices to the European Union (EU) and NATO on Thursday (October 17).

But Mr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” includes demands that Ukraine’s Western allies have so far refused to meet, such as a call to join the US-led NATO military alliance and allowing the use of Western weapons to strike deep inside Russia.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy presents his victory plan to the Ukrainian parliament on October 16, 2024. Photo: Reuters

President Zelenskyy presented the plan to the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday. On Thursday (today), he will bring the plan, which he said could end the war "by next year at the latest", to a summit of European Union leaders and a meeting of NATO defense ministers, both taking place in Brussels, Belgium.

He has already sent the five-point blueprint and three secret annexes to key Western leaders such as US President Joe Biden. Despite expressing strong support for Kiev, none have fully endorsed the plan.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on Wednesday that the plan was “a strong signal” from President Zelenskyy but added: “That doesn’t mean that I can say here that I support the whole plan. It will be a little difficult, because there are many issues.”

Mr Rutte said the 32 NATO members would have to discuss the plan in detail to gain clarity. "You may have some different views on specific aspects of the plan, but that does not mean we do not support Ukraine," he added.

NATO has said Ukraine will become a member, but has not said when. Mr Zelenskyy argued that NATO could extend the invitation now, even if membership would come later. “We understand that joining NATO is a matter of the future, not of the present,” he told the Ukrainian parliament.

The Kremlin said it was too early to comment on the details of the plan, but Kiev needed to “come to its senses” and realize the futility of its policies. President Vladimir Putin has cited Ukraine’s determination to join NATO as one of the reasons Russia will attack in February 2022.

President Zelenskyy's 5-point victory plan

1. The first point in Mr Zelenskyy's peace plan is a call for Ukraine to become a member of NATO and eventually the European Union - two alliances that Kiev has long pushed to join.

2. His plan also outlines proposals to strengthen Ukraine’s defenses, including improving air defenses, and reiterates his push for allies to ease restrictions on the use of long-range missiles to strike targets deep inside Russia. On Wednesday, Zelenskyy also called for “joint defense operations with our European neighbors to shoot down Russian missiles and drones within the air defense shield of our allies.”

3. President Zelenskyy reiterated on Wednesday that Ukraine will not accept “freezes” or concessions “at the expense of Ukraine’s territory or sovereignty.” He said Ukraine’s “Peace Formula” is “a guarantee for negotiations that does not force Ukraine to accept injustice. The Ukrainian people deserve a decent peace.”

4. Mr Zelenskyy said the plan also includes a new proposal to deploy “a comprehensive package of non-nuclear strategic deterrence on its territory, sufficient to protect Ukraine from any military threat from Russia”, arguing that a strong deterrent would force Russia to the negotiating table to “bring the war to an end”.

5. Mr Zelenskyy’s final pillars for peace are developing Ukraine’s economic potential and working toward a post-war plan. Mr Zelenskyy argues that the strength and experience of the Ukrainian military could be used to bolster post-war European defense and eventually replace some US forces in Europe.

Hoang Anh (according to AP, Reuters, CNN)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/tong-thong-ukraine-trinh-bay-ke-hoach-chien-thang-5-diem-nato-noi-se-hoi-kho-khan-post317211.html