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 that the plan could finish the war – which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 – no later than next year.
Key elements include a formal invitation to join Nato, the lifting by allies of restrictions on long-range strikes on Russia, a refusal to trade Ukraine’s territories and sovereignty, and the continuation of the incursion into the Kursk region of Russia.
The Kremlin dismissed the plan with a spokesman saying Kyiv needed to “sober up”.
Addressing MPs, Zelensky also criticised China, Iran and North Korea for their backing of Russia, and described them as a “coalition of criminals”.
He 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,” Zelensky told parliament.
The 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.
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.
He also claimed his extensive plan could be implemented with the agreement of his allies, and not Russia.
Credit: bbc.com
