Volodymyr Zelensky‚ Ukraines president‚ laid out his five-point victory plan to lawmakers about a year ago. The plan‚ which has been shared with allies‚ includes an immediate invitation to join NATO and proposes replacing US troops in Europe with Ukrainian units after the war ends.
The plans main points are:
- Immediate NATO membership invitation
- Strengthened security through partner guarantees
- Non-nuclear deterrence strategy
- Economic security and resource protection
- Three classified sections (one related to deterrence)
Zelensky believes this plan could end Russias war in Ukraine by late this year. He stated‚ “Putin must see that his geopolitical calculations are doomed Russians must feel that their czar has lost geopolitically to the world.“
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the plan‚ saying Kyiv needs to “sober up and realize the reasons that led to this conflict.“ Maria Zakharova‚ Russias Foreign Ministry spokeswoman accused Zelensky of “pushing NATO into direct conflict with our country.“
The plan was presented after Zelenskys trips to the United States and Europe‚ where he briefed key partners. However‚ public progress seems limited‚ with the US focused on presidential campaigns and Europe cautiously awaiting the November 2023 election results.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte commented‚ “Its my firm belief that one day Ukraine will be a member of NATO‚ and I will applaud when that day comes Its up to the allies to discuss among themselves how to take it forward.“
Meanwhile Ukraine prepares for a challenging winter‚ with Russian forces advancing on eastern cities like Pokrovsk and Toretsk. The country is bracing for potential power outages as temperatures drop and the heating season begins.
Ukrainian lawmakers reactions to the plan were mixed. Solomiia Bobrovska‚ a member of the opposition Holos party expressed doubt about US receptiveness. Oleksiy Goncharenko of the European Solidarity party questioned the plans realism on social media.
A senior NATO official mentioned that Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov would provide more details on the victory plan at a dinner with NATO defense ministers. The official added that a decision on NATO membership before last summer was unlikely‚ stating “I wont bet a bottle of wine“ on a NATO invitation anytime soon.
As Ukraine continues its struggle‚ the implementation and international acceptance of Zelenskys plan remain uncertain‚ with allies cautious responses and ongoing challenges in the conflict.