From the BBC:
“Zelensky presents 'victory
plan' to Ukrainian parliament”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky has presented MPs with a long-awaited "victory plan" that
aims to strengthen his country's position enough to end the war with Russia. Zelensky
told parliament in Kyiv the plan could finish the war - which began with
Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 - next year. Key
elements include a formal invitation to join Nato, the lifting by allies of
bans on long-range strikes with Western-supplied weapons deep into Russia, a
refusal to trade Ukraine’s territories and sovereignty, and the continuation of
the incursion into Russia's western Kursk region. The Kremlin dismissed the
plan with a spokesman saying Kyiv needed to "sober up". Addressing
MPs on Wednesday, Zelensky also criticised China, Iran and North Korea for
their backing of Russia, and described them as a "coalition of
criminals". He also said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had
"gone mad", describing him as bent on waging wars. Zelenksky said he
would present the victory 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 sphere, and in people's hearts," he told parliament.
The plan outlined by Zelensky
consists of five key points:
Inviting Ukraine to join the
Nato military alliance The strengthening of Ukrainian defence against
Russian forces, including getting permission from allies to use their
long-range weapons on Russian territory, and the continuation of Ukraine's
military operations on Russian territory to avoid creation of the "buffer
zones" in Ukraine
Containment of Russia via a
non-nuclear strategic deterrent package deployed on Ukrainian soil
Joint protection by the US and
the EU of Ukraine's critical natural resources and joint use of their economic
potential
For the post-war period only: replacing
some US troops stationed across Europe with Ukrainian soldiers
Three "addendums"
remain secret and will only be shared with Ukraine's partners, Zelensky said. In
the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, residents who spoke to the BBC were mostly
supportive of the plan. "We should not give up territory," Anatoly
said, adding that he hoped Ukraine would still have a chance to join Nato and
would also get more support from its allies. Nadia said everything depended on
what security guarantees Ukraine would be able to get. Another woman, Maria,
stressed that "people want to end the war as soon as possible".
Zelensky's plan was presented to
US President Joe Biden, as well as presidential candidates Kamala Harris and
Donald Trump, back in September. Key allies such as Britain, France, Italy and
Germany have also reportedly been shown the plan.
On Wednesday evening, Zelensky
spoke to Biden to brief him about his "victory plan". He also thanked
America for a new $425m (£327m) defence assistance package for Ukraine, which
included air defence systems and long-range weapons. The White House said the
package comprised "a range of additional capabilities", including air
defence and artillery systems, as well as ammunition and hundreds of armoured
vehicles. It said of Zelensky's "victory plan" that "the two
leaders tasked their teams to engage in further consultations on next
steps". Last month, US officials were quoted by the Wall Street Journal as
saying that the Biden administration was concerned that the plan lacked a
comprehensive strategy, and was little more than a repackaged request for more
weapons and the lifting of restrictions on the use of long-range missiles. Analysts
both in Ukraine and the West have also suggested that the White House is keen
to show that it wants to avoid further escalation with Russia in the run-up to
the US presidential election.
But Oleksandr Merezhko, a member
of Zelensky's Servant of the People party, reiterated his leader's playing down
of concerns about what a Trump win would mean for the war. He told BBC Newshour
that "no matter who becomes the next American president, he or she will
have to follow American interests and it is in the best American interest to
support Ukraine".
Zelensky's conditions for peace
are increasingly at odds with the situation which surrounds him. In front of
MPs, he acknowledged the growing fatigue in his country. His own tiredness was
etched across his face as he said that "victory has become for some an
uncomfortable word and it’s not easy to achieve". National morale has
gradually been crumbling under the weight of a mounting death toll, a
controversial mobilisation law and never-ending Russian assaults on Ukrainian
territory. It’s increasingly thought any peace deal would have to involve
Ukraine conceding territory in exchange for security guarantees. However, there
was no hint of a compromise to bring the end of the war closer. Instead,
Zelensky doubled down on wanting to force Russia to negotiate and to not cede
Ukraine’s territory, through the strengthening of his own military. Merezhko
stressed that Zelensky's speech did not hint at any territorial concessions,
which he described as "out of the question". He also claimed his
extensive plan could be implemented with the agreement of his allies, and not
Russia.
In public, Zelensky evidently
still sees this war as existential, and warned of Russian President Vladimir
Putin continuing to strengthen his position. He also seemed to frame his vision
as an investment opportunity for Western allies in terms of natural resources
and economic potential. The Ukrainian president wants his exhausted troops to
keep fighting. But with his army so reliant 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 Kyiv. "That doesn't mean that I here can say I support
the whole plan - that would be a bit difficult because there are many issues
that we have to understand better." Mr Rutte added: "I am absolutely
confident that in the future, Ukraine will join us [Nato]." Immediately
after Zelensky finished speaking, the Kremlin rubbished his "ephemeral
peace plan," saying Kyiv needed to "sober up". The only way the
war would end was Ukraine to "realise the futility of the policy it is
pursuing," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
^ Ukraine needs to defeat Russia
and the West (the US, Canada, Germany, France, Spain, the UK, Australia, etc.)
need to continue to support Ukraine. ^
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