Will the Allies Accept Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan: International Community’s Assessment in the Media Mirror
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented his long-awaited ‘Victory Plan’ in the Ukrainian parliament, sparking widespread international media coverage. Publications by Politico, CNN, BBC, Deutsche Welle, The Guardian and others highlighted key points of the plan, including a call for security guarantees, long-range weapons, and no territorial concessions. Zelenskyy’s plan is receiving both support and criticism on the international stage, with Western allies still considering their response, while the Kremlin has predictably already dismissed it as escalatory.
Zelenskyy demands weapons and security guarantees from allies
The American news outlet Politico, commenting on the ‘Victory Plan’, notes: Ukraine wants weapons and security guarantees to show Moscow that it cannot win the war.
The outlet quotes press secretary Dmitry Peskov, who voices the official Kremlin line: the special military operation should end with the fulfilment of all our previously set goals. According to journalists, Moscow’s conditions are tantamount to Kyiv’s surrender, as they require Ukraine to withdraw from the territories claimed by Russia, abandon its intentions to join NATO, guarantee the rights of Russian speakers, and carry out demilitarisation and ‘denazification’.
Leading news outlet CNN reports that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has presented his long-awaited ‘Victory Plan’ to the Ukrainian parliament after failing to secure additional tangible support during meetings with European allies. Journalists recall that Zelenskyy had already called on the Europeans to ‘joint defence operations to shoot down Russian missiles and drones within the range of the partners’ air shield”. However, then-NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg ‘cooled enthusiasm for the idea, saying the bloc would not become part of the conflict’. The plan also calls for Ukraine to continue operations in Russia’s Kursk region, which experts say is an important bargaining chip for Kyiv as it rejects calls to cede its own territory.
BBC asks Ukrainians about their attitude to the President’s plan
The BBC, a well-known British broadcaster , focuses on the main points of the plan, which include an official invitation to join NATO, the lifting of the ban on long-range strikes by Western weapons deep into Russia by the allies, the refusal to trade Ukraine’s territories and sovereignty, and the continuation of the invasion of Russia’s western Kursk region. BBC journalists conduct rapid interviews on the streets of Kyiv to find out whether Ukrainians support the ‘Victory Plan’ presented by their president. The results of the poll show that there is a diversity of opinions in Ukraine about Zelenskyy’s proposals. Some support his position of refusing territorial concessions, while others are in favour of ending the war at any cost. This division of opinion reflects the complexity of the situation and the different views on the country’s future in the face of the conflict.
Zelenskyy advertises ‘Victory Plan’ to MPs
News from Ukraine: Zelenskyy advertises ‘Victory Plan’ to MPs – this is the headline of a story by the German international broadcaster Deutsche Welle. The journalists focus not on the plan as such, but on Biden’s announcement of $425 million (€391 million) in military support for Kyiv. According to a White House statement, the package includes air defence, air-to-ground munitions, armoured vehicles, and critical ammunition.
Deutsche Welle also quotes Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova as saying that the ‘victory plan’ could lead to a direct conflict between NATO and Moscow. In this context, DW recalls that despite the fact that Zelenskyy wants to use long-range weapons to strike deep into Russian territory, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has ruled out supplying them to Kyiv, saying that this could lead to escalation. According to Deutsche Welle, Scholz stressed that no decisions would be made ‘over Ukraine’s head’ and without coordination with the closest partners. He noted that Russian soldiers are victims of the Russian president’s imperialist policy aimed at expanding his influence, and such actions should not be repeated in Europe.
Zelenskyy expects unconditional invitation to NATO
Zelenskyy lays out a ‘victory plan’ for Ukraine, which Moscow calls an escalation, according to the Guardian, a leading British newspaper, which notes that Zelenskyy is seeking an ‘unconditional invitation’ to join NATO. The Guardian notes that NATO chief Mark Rutte responded cautiously to Zelenskyy’s plans, saying that he and the allies ‘take note of it’. ‘The plan has many aspects and many political and military issues that we really need to discuss with the Ukrainians to understand what is behind it, to see what we can and cannot do,” Rutte said. The Guardian believes that Zelenskyy’s vision was an attempt not only to change the global narrative about Ukraine’s future, but also to become part of a strategic military project. As the war approaches its fourth year, Russia continues to throw soldiers and weapons to gradually advance in the east. In addition, the crisis in the Middle East has diverted funding and diplomatic attention away from Ukraine, and Donald Trump’s likely victory in the US presidential election could complicate Zelenskyy’s negotiations with the new administration. The publication quoted the Ukrainian president as saying that Ukraine could achieve a ‘just peace’ if its allies provided it with better defence capabilities and strategic deterrence. He stressed that strategic mineral deposits worth trillions of dollars could strengthen either Russia or Ukraine and the democratic world. These resources include uranium, titanium, lithium and graphite, as well as rich soil that produces a significant portion of the world’s wheat crop.
NATO’s rejection of Ukraine is in the interests of Kremlin propagandists
‘Zelenskyy says his ‘victory plan’ is ready as drone attacks ammunition depot in Russia‘ – this is the headline of the international news organisation Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s article about the ‘Victory Plan’. In this regard, the journalists focus on what they believe to be Zelensky’s main request: ‘to lift restrictions on the use of long-range weapons throughout the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine, on Russian territory and on the enemy’s military infrastructure.’ The plan, which excludes the ceding of Ukrainian territory and also includes an invitation to Kyiv to join the NATO military alliance and the deployment of a package of strategic non-nuclear deterrents in Ukraine, was described by journalists of the international broadcaster. Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty spoke to Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelenskyy, who stressed that Russia has built its propaganda campaign on the claim that Ukraine will not become a NATO member. He noted that this was used to justify attacks and provocations against Ukraine. Podoliak also stressed that President Zelenskyy is calling for a clear political signal to Russia that it is impossible to issue ultimatums on spheres of influence.
Speaking to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell expressed his desire to hear directly from Zelenskyy before commenting on his plan. He stressed that Ukraine needs to receive better and stronger security guarantees, as Ukraine’s security is part of Europe’s security.
Zelenskyy ruled out ceding territory in the ‘victory plan’ rejected by the Kremlin, according to France 24, a French international news channel. It writes that in his address, Zelenskyy condemned China, Iran and North Korea for supporting Moscow, claiming that Pyongyang sends its citizens to Russian factories and the front line. He noted that the coalition with North Korea has already become part of a ‘coalition of criminals’ led by Putin. Kyiv has rejected alternative plans to end the war proposed by Brazil and China, as they do not ensure Ukraine’s security and territorial integrity.
The leading German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung focuses on the military aspect of the ‘Victory Plan’. The newspaper writes that Kyiv insists on the right to use Western weapons without restrictions. Paris and London are ready to support this, while Berlin and Washington have not yet spoken out. It remains unclear who has been supplying what, and where Kyiv can already strike. Will Ukraine soon be allowed to attack Russian territory?’ FAZ wonders.
The German newspaper Bild, speaking about Zelenskyy’s plan, quotes the new NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, who said that Ukraine should start negotiations with Russia only from a position of strength. Rutte emphasised NATO’s readiness to support Ukraine in the long term to help it reach this point. The NATO Secretary General noted that until then, President Zelenskyy can count on further assistance from the Alliance.
Ukrainian opposition criticises Zelenskyy’s plan
The German newspaper Die Zeit drew attention to the reaction of the Ukrainian opposition to Zelenskyy’s plan. The Ukrainian opposition has criticised Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s ‘victory plan’ after his speech in parliament. MP Iryna Gerashchenko from the European Solidarity party noted that the document does not contain any real proposals for Ukraine, but only requirements for partners. She asked how the country could win if its partners did not act for it. Oleksiy Honcharenko also spoke out, noting that the plan is not realistic and consists only of general slogans.
Overall, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Victory Plan has elicited a variety of reactions at the international level. While Ukraine continues to insist on strict conditions for preserving its territorial integrity and joining NATO, the country also faces difficult diplomatic challenges from both allies and adversaries. The future of this plan depends on the support of the international community and Ukraine’s ability to maintain a military and diplomatic balance in a difficult environment.
