KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday unveiled his much-anticipated Victory Plan, a five-part strategy to end Russia’s invasion, firmly rejecting any possibility of ceding Ukrainian land. The plan emphasizes integration with NATO and calls for increased Western support, including more advanced weaponry for Ukraine.
Addressing Ukrainian lawmakers in Kyiv, Zelensky ruled out territorial compromises with Russia, stressing that Ukraine would not trade its sovereignty for peace. “Russia must lose the war against Ukraine. And this does not mean a freeze (in fighting) and it does not mean any trade in Ukraine’s territory or sovereignty,” Zelensky said, flanked by EU and Ukrainian flags.
The Ukrainian leader highlighted NATO membership as the top priority in his Victory Plan, calling for an immediate invitation to the US-led defense alliance. “The first point is an invitation to NATO, now,” he told lawmakers. He said that Ukraine’s exclusion from NATO had encouraged Moscow’s aggressive actions across Europe for decades.
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Zelensky’s address comes amid growing pressure for Ukraine to outline an exit strategy from the conflict, as Kyiv’s forces face losses on the battlefield, and Russia intensifies attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure. Nearly a fifth of Ukraine’s territory has been seized by Russian forces since the invasion began in February 2022.
Zelensky called for the removal of restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons, arguing that Kyiv must be allowed to target Russian military sites both within occupied Ukrainian territories and inside Russia itself.
However, Moscow swiftly dismissed Zelensky’s plan. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described it as “some ephemeral peace plan,” insisting that Kyiv should recognize the futility of its current policies and the need to engage in real negotiations.
Russia has maintained that peace talks cannot proceed unless Ukraine cedes control of the eastern and southern territories currently occupied by Russian forces. Meanwhile, the Russian military announced on Wednesday that it had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine—Nevske and Krasnyi Yar.
Zelensky’s Victory Plan also criticized North Korea for its support of Moscow. He accused North Korea of sending its citizens to work in Russian factories and fight alongside Russian forces.
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Zelensky rejected peace proposals from countries like Brazil and China, arguing that their plans failed to ensure Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. His own Peace Formula, outlined earlier, demands the full withdrawal of Russian forces from all Ukrainian territory as recognized by international borders.
For the first time, Zelensky also revealed that he had discussed a “non-nuclear strategic deterrence package” with Western powers, including the US, Britain, France, Italy, and Germany. This secret annex to the Victory Plan, he said, would be deployed on Ukrainian territory after the war to deter future Russian attacks.
