Zelensky unveils NATO-backed blueprint for Ukraine's victory
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky presented a five-point victory plan in the Verkhovna Rada on Wednesday. The plan includes three classified annexes. A key element is inviting Ukraine to join NATO in the near future.
The first point is the invitation of Ukraine to NATO membership.
“We realise that membership in the Alliance is a matter of the future, not the present. Putin must see that his geopolitical calculations are failing. Russians must feel that their ‘tsar’ has lost geopolitically. Thank you to all our partners who believe that inviting Ukraine to NATO now and its future membership strengthens everyone. The invitation is a strong decision that requires only determination,” Zelensky stated during his speech in parliament.
Strengthening Ukrainian defence
Zelensky explained that the second point is strengthening Ukrainian defence and transferring the war to Russian territory. The details of this point are contained in a classified annex.
The third point concerns deterring Russian aggression, also covered by a classified annex, available to the leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, and Italy. Ukraine proposes deploying a comprehensive strategic deterrence package, non-nuclear in nature, on its territory to stop Russian aggression.
“Russia will either join a fair diplomatic process to justly end the war, or lose the capability to continue its aggressive war. This will happen through the use of the deterrence package provided to Ukraine, in accordance with defined military objectives," the president said.
Rebuilding Ukraine's strategic and economic potential
The fourth point of the plan concerns rebuilding Ukraine's strategic and economic potential, which includes another classified annex provided to the USA and the EU. It involves special agreements with partners.
“Ukraine proposes that the United States, along with some partners, particularly the European Union, of which Ukraine will be a part, and with other global partners, enter into a special agreement on the joint protection of Ukraine's critical resources, as well as joint investments and the use of its economic potential," Zelensky informed.
Post-war period: strengthening European defence
The fifth point refers to the post-war period. Ukrainian experiences are to be used for the benefit of all NATO and Europe's defence capabilities. Ukraine suggests replacing American troops stationed in Europe with Ukrainian armed forces.
“If our partners agree, we anticipate replacing some U.S. military forces stationed in Europe with Ukrainian units after the war. Ukrainians have proven they can be a force that Russian aggression will not defeat,” Zelensky noted.
He also added that after the war, Ukraine will have "one of the most experienced and largest military contingents".
“The coalition of criminals led by Putin already includes North Korea – the Kim dynasty, which holds over 20 million Koreans in captivity. Our intelligence is observing not only weapons transfers but also people from North Korea to Russia. These are workers for Russian factories, set to replace Russians killed in the war and serve in the Russian army,” added the president.
Timeline for implementing the plan
The victory plan has a specific timeline. As Zelensky emphasized, “the first four points are during the war to end it". The fifth point concerns the post-war period, aimed at ensuring Ukraine's security.
“If Ukraine does not strengthen now, Russia will strengthen next year. And we must be honest — Ukrainians and all our partners must recognise that if we do not strengthen now, Putin will have time to strengthen next year in a way that permanently sets diplomacy aside. Russia must lose the war with Ukraine,” Zelensky declared.
“We must implement the victory plan to bring Russia to the peace summit and be ready to end the war," the president concluded.
