President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine urged leaders of the European Union’s 27 member states in Brussels on Thursday to support his plan to end the ongoing war, which he believes could conclude by next year, although it remains uncertain how fully Ukraine’s allies will embrace this timeline.
During his latest international visit, Mr. Zelensky made a passionate appeal for sustained support as Ukrainian forces continue to lose ground to Russian troops two and a half years into the conflict. He had initially intended to present his plan at a gathering of European leaders in Germany earlier this month, but that meeting was postponed following President Biden's cancellation due to Hurricane Milton.
“You all know Russia’s psychology,” Mr. Zelensky stated. “Russia will resort to diplomacy only when it sees that it cannot achieve anything by force.”
Later on Thursday, Mr. Zelensky is expected to hold a press conference with Mark Rutte, the head of NATO, to advocate for Ukraine’s accession into the military alliance, which is a central element of his proposals.
In a news conference earlier, Mr. Zelensky acknowledged U.S. concerns regarding the potential implications of Ukraine's NATO membership on American involvement in the war. He argued, “Invitation to NATO is not at all crossing any red lines, and crossing red lines with whom — with a murderer?”
His “victory plan” also calls for Western allies to lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of Western-supplied missiles to target Russian military sites and to provide more satellite data to help Ukraine identify and strike these targets. He outlined this plan publicly on Wednesday in a speech to Ukraine's Parliament, aiming to galvanize domestic support for the belief that Ukraine can reverse its battlefield fortunes.
As winter approaches, Ukraine bracingly faces increased Russian attacks on energy infrastructure and has lost several cities and towns in the eastern Donetsk region, which has become the conflict's focal point. Ukrainian forces are frequently outnumbered by Russian troops and munitions on the battlefield.
While allies have committed to providing additional military aid to Ukraine, they remain hesitant to permit Ukrainian strikes inside Russia, fearing such actions could escalate the conflict. Furthermore, Western allies are reluctant to allow Ukraine to join NATO while the war continues, as this could draw them directly into the largest land conflict in Europe since 1945.
Mr. Zelensky indicated to Parliament that Ukraine would offer “partners with a clear justification of what our goals are, how we are achieving them and how much this will reduce Russia’s ability to continue the war.” He aims to persuade international allies that aiding Ukraine serves their own interests in countering Russian aggression, which threatens broader European security.
He also highlighted claims that Russia is receiving artillery shells and ballistic missiles from North Korea, and allegedly deploying North Korean ground troops to assist in combat, a statement Ukrainian officials have reiterated without providing concrete evidence. Western officials, including Mr. Rutte, have not confirmed the presence of North Korean troops in Ukraine.
In advocating for greater cooperation, Mr. Zelensky pointed out that Ukraine possesses valuable metals like uranium, titanium, and lithium, which could benefit allies amid growing competition for these resources. He also underscored the potential for collaborative arms production in Ukraine, with several European military companies already engaged in or considering such initiatives.
Mr. Zelensky concluded by asserting that Europe’s ongoing support and unity serve as vital tools against Russian aggression, stating, “It’s a weapon that means one thing for all of us: safety.”