Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine’s president, has appealed to western nations to endorse his “triumph plan” during its launch in the Ukrainian parliament earlier this week. This plea was made amidst an escalating military threat from invading Russian forces in the east.
Zelenskiy’s strategic five-point strategy calls on NATO to invite Ukraine for immediate membership, urging allies to exponentially increase military assistance and collaboration with Kyiv. It also encourages the lifting of restrictions on determining long-distance strikes within Russia’s borders. Moreover, the strategy demands a “comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package” for Ukraine to prevent future incursions by Russia.
The plan comprises three undisclosed annexes, which Zelenskiy has circulated amongst his western allies. This move aims to maintain their sustained support if Donald Trump, an admirer of Russian president Vladimir Putin, wins the impending US presidential election. Trump has asserted his ability to terminate the war within 24 hours.
Asserting the feasibility of his plan, Zelenskiy proposed that with a prompt initiation, the ongoing war could potentially be concluded by next year. He highlighted that the success of the plan hinges on international cooperation. He also asserted that Russia has no bearing on the execution of the plan but communicated an anticipation for altering conditions leading to the termination of warfare and incentivising Russia to embrace tranquillity.
The Ukrainian president indicated that enhancing Ukraine’s military capability and offering it a crucial deterrence package could be a potent signal to Russia. This could illustrate the choice they face between choosing diplomatic solutions or depleting their military force.
As Russia’s forces relentlessly advance in eastern Ukraine, paying a huge price in troops and assets, the country derided the proposed peace plan, declaring it would make no difference. Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, dismissed the supposed peace plan as an illusion that is likely, in actuality, to be an American scheme aiming to push the fight to the last Ukrainian, which has now been disguised by Zelenskiy under the label of a ‘peace plan.’
Peskov suggested that a genuine peace plan for Ukraine could exist, which would require the Kyiv authorities to acknowledge the inefficacy of their current strategies, adopt a more pragmatic approach, and comprehensively understand the root factors resulting in the unceasing conflict.
The pretext used by Moscow to initiate a full-scale invasion is the baseless assumption that democratic Ukraine is managed by individuals with an extreme dislike of Russians and is to be utilised as a launchpad for western offensives against Russia. Presently, Mr. Putin insists that Ukraine must acknowledge the Kremlin’s permanent annexation of five of its regions and permanently renounce its aspirations for Nato membership. Mr. Zelenskiy, however, has expressly rejected territorial compromises.
Neither Washington nor other western capitals have shown any sign they will fulfil Mr. Zelenskiy’s demands, consistently emphasising the paramount importance of avoiding ‘escalation’ with Moscow and the potential for a direct conflict between Nato and Russia.
Zelenskiy also informed parliament that North Korea was now shipping arms, workers and soldiers to assist in Russia’s warfare efforts. Zelenskiy said, “Essentially, this equates to the involvement of a second nation in the battle against Ukraine siding with Russia.”
According to Russia, on Wednesday, two additional villages in eastern Ukraine were seized amidst heavy combat in the crucial yet small city of Toretsk, and growing pressure on the Kyiv forces near Kharkiv region’s border. This has led to a compulsory evacuation order for Kupiansk’s residents due to relentless bombardment.