Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy on October 17 outlined particulars of his “victory plan” — a set of measures he says would flip the tide of the warfare in Kyiv’s favor — to Ukraine’s EU and NATO allies as he seeks to persuade them to ask Ukraine to hitch NATO and safe extra army assist forward of a tough winter on the battlefield and in its battered cities.
“If we begin now and comply with the victory plan, we are able to finish this warfare no later than subsequent 12 months,” Zelenskiy instructed EU leaders.
He instructed reporters the plan goals “to strengthen Ukraine” and pave the best way for a diplomatic answer to finish the battle.
“This plan does not rely upon Russian will, solely on the desire of our companions,” he mentioned earlier than addressing leaders at an EU summit.
Zelenskiy additionally warned that his nation has intelligence info that 10,000 troops from North Korea are being ready to hitch Russian forces preventing in opposition to his nation, calling any North Korean involvement “step one to a world warfare.”
Ukraine’s Western allies have but to substantiate Kyiv’s assertion that Pyongyang is sending troops, although they are saying they’re learning it.
NATO Secretary-Common Mark mentioned at a joint press convention with Zelenskiy that NATO had seen no proof North Korean troopers are concerned within the struggle, however added it’s identified North Korea is supporting Russia with weapons and expertise and “that’s extremely worrying.”
As Zelenskiy ready to pitch his proposed plan in Brussels first to the EU summit after which to a gathering of NATO protection ministers, Ukraine was subjected to a recent wave of drone strikes that focused the Kyiv and important vitality infrastructure within the south.
The Ukrainian chief partially unveiled his victory plan measures in a speech to Ukraine’s parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on October 16, after presenting the five-point plan — which he mentioned has three secret appendices — to Ukraine’s major Western allies, together with U.S. President Joe Biden and the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and Italy.
The plan, which guidelines out ceding Ukrainian territory, requires an invite for Kyiv to hitch the NATO army alliance and the deployment of a strategic nonnuclear deterrent bundle in Ukraine.
To this point, whereas declaring that Ukraine will ultimately turn out to be a member, NATO has not given a transparent deadline, and Russian President Vladimir Putin has mentioned Kyiv’s intention to hitch the alliance was one of many causes for Russia’s invasion.
WATCH: Ukraine has two choices, both nuclear weapons or NATO membership, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy mentioned.
The Kremlin reacted to Zelenskiy’s “victory plan” on October 17 by saying it will result in additional escalation with the chance of direct battle between Russia and NATO, Russian state information company TASS reported.
Rutte, talking on the joint press convention, mentioned NATO is working to get Ukraine ever nearer to the alliance, including it was important NATO continued to offer the nation with army assist.
“Ukraine will likely be member of NATO, there isn’t any doubt about it, and till that occurs we’ll ensure that Ukraine has all the pieces it must prevail,” he mentioned.
Rutte instructed journalists earlier that the group is with Ukraine “for the lengthy haul” and needs Kyiv to be in a robust place earlier than it opens negotiations with Moscow.
U.S. Ambassador to NATO Julianne Smith instructed reporters on October 16 that whereas Kyiv’s path towards eventual NATO membership was “irreversible,” she mentioned “we’re not on the level proper now the place the alliance is speaking about issuing an invite within the quick time period.”
WATCH: Residents of two Ukrainian cities — Mykolayiv and Odesa — shared their ideas about President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s “victory plan.”
Individually, EU Council President Charles Michel instructed reporters earlier than heading into the summit that the 27-member bloc wants to hurry up its assist for Ukraine, each militarily and financially.
One among Zelenskiy’s major requests is looking for the “lifting by companions of restrictions on using long-range weapons on all the territory of Ukraine occupied by Russia and on Russian territory and on enemy army infrastructure” and assist in “equipping our reserve brigades.”
Zelenskiy mentioned on October 17 that he had mentioned the plan once more throughout a telephone name with Biden the earlier night.
“I’m grateful to President Biden, each events in Congress, and the American folks for the $425 million protection bundle introduced at present, which incorporates new air protection programs and long-range weapons,” Zelenskiy wrote on X.
“We additionally talked about how our groups will work on the factors of the victory plan,” he added.
Nevertheless, forward of the NATO assembly with Zelenskiy, Smith instructed reporters on July 16 that Washington’s place on the restrictions to make use of long-range weapons deeper inside Russia remained unchanged.
“I don’t have something to announce a few change in U.S. coverage. I see that we nonetheless are on the similar place the place we’ve been, and that’s that we’ll get Ukraine all the help that it must defend its territory,” she mentioned.
On October 17, Russia attacked Ukraine with 56 drones and one cruise missile, the Ukrainian Air Pressure reported. The top of Kyiv’s army administration, Serhiy Popko, mentioned the capital was attacked by Russian drones, whereas Vitaliy Kim, the governor of Mykolayiv, mentioned Russian strikes focused vitality infrastructure within the southern area.
Ukrainian air-defense programs shot down 22 Russian drones over the Sumy, Kyiv, Poltava, Chernihiv, Zhytomyr, Mykolayiv, Cherkasy, Odesa, and Ternopil areas, whereas 27 drones have been compelled down by digital jamming, the air pressure mentioned.
Russia’s Protection Ministry, in the meantime, mentioned its air-defense programs shot down 13 Ukrainian drones over three of its areas early on October 17.