With Russian forces advancing in the east and the prospect of a harsh winter with power shortages, Zelensky outlined five key points in his plan, which heavily depend on support from Kyiv’s allies. Among the key aspects were an unconditional invitation to join NATO and assurances of specific military aid.
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“Together with our partners, we must change the circumstances so that the war ends. Regardless of what Putin wants. We must all change the circumstances so that Russia is forced to peace,” he told lawmakers and top officials.
In his third point, Zelensky stressed the importance of Ukraine developing a non-nuclear deterrence capability, which he claimed would be sufficient to neutralize Russian military power. While he provided no specific details, he mentioned there was a classified addendum to the plan that he could not reveal.
The plan also proposed a Western role in protecting Ukraine’s natural mineral resources from Russian attacks and included pledges for post-war reconstruction. The speech was delivered in the presence of top military, intelligence, and political leaders, with lawmakers occasionally rising to applaud.
The Kremlin responded cautiously, stating it was too soon to comment on Zelensky’s plan in detail but suggested Kyiv should “sober up” and acknowledge the futility of its current policies.
After two and a half years of war, Zelensky aimed to reassure Ukraine’s war-weary public that victory was achievable soon, stressing the need for national unity as the country faces mounting challenges. “We achieved and are achieving results in battles thanks to our unity. Therefore, please do not lose unity,” he urged.
Ukraine also faces uncertainty with the upcoming U.S. election, where a potential return of Donald Trump to the White House could alter the war’s trajectory. Trump has vowed to end the war quickly if elected, raising concerns among Kyiv’s supporters that a swift resolution could come at the cost of significant concessions.
Zelensky had already presented his plan to President Joe Biden during a September meeting in Washington. He followed up with a tour of Europe, meeting leaders in Britain, France, Italy, and Germany to discuss his proposals. Zelensky announced he would present the plan to European Union leaders at a summit in Brussels on Thursday.
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