Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is set to unveil his “victory plan” to win the war against Russia in a speech to the Ukrainian parliament. The plan outlines the conditions under which Ukraine would be prepared to negotiate peace and is seen as a last resort to strengthen Ukraine’s position in future cease-fire negotiations. Despite touring Western allies with the plan, no country has publicly endorsed or commented on it so far.
The plan includes making Ukraine a member of NATO, using Western long-range weapons to strike deep inside Russia, strengthening Ukraine’s defenses, and intensifying sanctions against Russia. Zelenskyy believes this plan is crucial for Ukraine to start the process of negotiating peace. He aims to implement the plan before the inauguration of a new US president, following concerns about potential funding cuts from presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Ukraine’s military is facing heavy losses along its eastern front as Russian forces advance towards the city of Pokrovsk. Kyiv has been at a disadvantage compared to Moscow, with limited ammunition and troops to fight the war. Ukrainian officials were expecting feedback on the plan from Western allies at a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group, which was postponed due to US President Joe Biden cancelling his attendance in response to Hurricane Milton.
Biden has been cautious about using long-range weapons to strike inside Russia, fearing escalation, and it is expected that Vice President Kamala Harris would continue this policy. US assistance to Ukraine has arrived too late to make a significant impact on Ukrainian forces during Biden’s presidency. In contrast, former President Donald Trump has claimed he would end the war but has not provided details on how he would achieve this.
Brazil and China have proposed peace plans that Zelenskyy has rejected, stating they would only pause the war and give Moscow time to strengthen its military and defense industry. Overall, Zelenskyy’s “victory plan” is seen as a crucial step for Ukraine to negotiate peace with Russia and strengthen its position in future negotiations.
