Zelenskyy Outlines 'Victory Plan' to Ukraine's Lawmakers
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined his "victory plan" for the war with Russia to Ukraine's lawmakers on October 16.
Major points of the plan include requesting an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO and permission to use Western-supplied missiles to strike military targets deep inside Russian territory. Both steps have been met with reluctance by Kyiv's allies so far.
The plan also includes continued military operations in Russia, such as the incursion into the Kursk border region that began in August. And Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs more air defense systems and assistance from partners to shoot down Russian missiles, as well as access to a broader range of intelligence from allies.
"If we start moving according to this victory plan now, it may be possible to end the war no later than next year," Zelenskyy told Ukraine's parliament.
Zelenskyy also said that in private communications, Ukraine's partners are increasingly mentioning "negotiations" and much less frequently using the word "justice."
But he repeated that Ukraine is not prepared for any "trade-offs involving territory or sovereignty," which drew applause from the lawmakers.
The war is now in its third year, and Ukraine's army faces difficulty holding back Russian advances, especially in the east. Although Moscow's gains are incremental, the steady forward movement has made Kyiv feel it needs more large-scale Western help
Zelenskyy has outlined his plan to key allies including US President Joe Biden in recent weeks.
The plan is seen as a way for Ukraine to strengthen its hand in any negotiations with Moscow. However, Zelenskyy's request for an invitation leaves NATO in a bind. Since the full-scale invasion began in 2022, NATO has struggled to find a way to bring Ukraine closer without formally inviting it in.
NATO's credibility is based on its collective security guarantee, Article 5 of its founding treaty. It's a commitment by all 32 member countries to come to the aid of any member whose sovereignty or territory might be under attack.
However, it does not apply to a partner country like Ukraine.
"We understand that NATO membership is a matter of the future, not the present," Zelenskyy acknowledged.
