Volodymyr Zelensky reveals his “victory plan” and rules out ceding “territory” to Russia to end the war

As he seeks to obtain more support from kyiv’s Western allies, President Volodymyr Zelensky presented his “victory plan” to Ukrainian MPs this Wednesday, October 16.

“It is for all of us, the Ukrainians, that the victory plan was prepared,” declared the head of state to the deputies, according to a video broadcast on the presidency’s Facebook account. The Ukrainian president, who ruled out ceding “territory” to Russia or accepting a freeze of the front line, believing that the Kremlin must lose the war launched in February 2022.

The “victory plan” presented Thursday to the European Council

He also denounced the support of China, North Korea and Iran for Russia’s war effort. “The coalition of criminals, with Putin, now includes North Korea (…) Everyone sees the Iranian regime’s assistance to Putin. The same goes for China’s cooperation with Russia,” said Volodymyr Zelensky.

The Ukrainian president also once again asked the West to lift restrictions on long-range weapons and called for the deployment of “non-nuclear deterrent” means in Ukraine. He also urged his allies to invite kyiv to join NATO as part of its “victory plan”.

A plan that Volodymyr Zelensky will present to the European Council on Thursday, at the invitation of Charles Michel, the president of the body. On social networks, Charles Michel declared that he had invited Volodymyr Zelensky “to the European Council summit on Thursday October 17 to take stock of the latest developments in Russia’s war against Ukraine and present his plan for victory.”

Reacting to these statements on Wednesday, the Kremlin rejected the victory plan presented by Volodymyr Zelensky, calling on Ukraine to “wake up”. “The only peace plan that can be is the understanding by the kyiv regime that its policy is without perspective and that it is necessary to wake up,” its spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, told the press. .

Meeting with Biden canceled

Military support for kyiv and the strengthening of Ukraine’s already battered energy sector are among the topics on the agenda of the meeting of leaders of the 27 countries of the European Union, which will be held on Thursday in Brussels.

Last week, Volodymyr Zelensky made a whirlwind tour of European capitals, including Berlin, London, Paris and Rome, as his country faces a third grueling winter of war.

The trips were arranged at the last minute after US President Joe Biden postponed a trip to Germany originally planned for last week to oversee preparations for Hurricane Milton, which was approaching Florida.

Support threatened by Donald Trump

The Ukrainian leader has sought new military and financial aid from his European allies, fearing a decline in their support if Donald Trump wins the US presidency next month.

Russian forces have advanced on the eastern front line and targeted the power grid, as Ukraine faces its harshest winter since Russia’s invasion began in February 2022.