“Victory can still win the war so the US and the West need to send additional military aid and loosen the restrictions on how Ukraine uses the weapons in its possession.” In nutshell is the so-called Zelensky's self-proclaimed "Victory Plan," in a New Bottle repeatedly put across to Ukraine’s allies.
The world knows who can win. The Russians have the advantage. Putin has a larger Army with a more war waging capability and resources. However, all of this doesn't necessarily guarantee Victory —what the Russian army has in materiel advantages, it lacks in the quality of motivational command to lead with a cause. Having said that Russia's tactical gains over the last few months have left no option to Victory but to withdraw further west. The facts on the ground, include a slow but steady Russian advance with the Ukrainian army suffering high attrition rates.
Zelensky knows all of this, and so is this Zelensky's self-proclaimed "Victory Plan," which the Ukrainian president has been preaching and boasting of dependent on the US-NATO ally’s support! The hard truth is that the US or the West does not see anything original or innovative in it. The "Victory Plan" is less a "Plan" and more a continuation of Zelensky's lobbying campaign to keep US and the Western arms flowing in.
Zelenskyy has presented his so-called victory plan to the Ukrainian parliament, President Biden and EU leaders aimed at seeking a just peace to the war with Russia thanks to aid and guarantees from its allies. Zelensky now talks of "Peace" more frequently than ever. Zelensky's interpretation of a peace process is through his so-called 'Victory Plan' is that “If we start now and follow the Victory Plan, we can end this war no later than next year.”
Zelensky’s Five Point Plan in brief:
- Invitation to join NATO
Even though actual membership is still an issue for the future, an invitation to join would send a strong signal to Russian President Putin. Member countries have committed to Kyiv’s “irreversible” path to membership but haven't issued an actual invitation. However, NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte reiterated that Russia had no role in deciding if Ukraine should be in NATO.
- More Weapons with No Restrictions on their Use
Ukraine’s request at ending all restrictions on the use of donated weapons to strike inside Russia and help from allies in shooting down missiles and drones over Ukrainian territory. For the Western fears of crossing Kremlin red lines Zelensky argued that Ukraine's advance into Russia's Kursk region shows that Putin doesn't have enough strength. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia has cautioned “If the decision to lift restrictions is really taken, that will mean that from that moment NATO countries will be conducting direct war with Russia a nuclear power.”
- Deterrence
Ukraine proposes to deploy on its soil a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package that will be sufficient to protect Ukraine from any military threat from Russia.
- Strategic economic potential
Ukraine proposes partners from the EU and US sign a special agreement on common use of Ukraine’s critical resources, like lithium, gas, titanium and others, and produce energy together in the future.
- Post-war perspectives
Ukraine would bolster European security with its battle-hardened military by replacing certain military contingents of the US armed forces stationed in Europe.
A Very Ambitious Plan: Some of the Ukrainian MPs felt it was a very ambitious plan. “The plan looks like others need to do everything for us.”
“On one hand, the plan sounds like a fantasy. On the other hand, Patriot, Storm Shadow, and F-16s used to sinking of a large part of the Black Sea Fleet of the Russian Federation and the control of a piece of Kursk. Everything depends on the decisions of partners and the success of our diplomacy.” Lozynskyisaid. However, he added that Zelenskyy "did not explain how he plans to achieve the implementation of these points."
UN Warns of Transfer of Weapons to Ukraine-Russia
High Representative for Disarmament Affairs Izumi Nakamitsu said on 13 September 2024,that the provision of military assistance and transfer of arms and ammunition to the Ukrainian armed forces have continuedin the context of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in violation of the UN Charter and of international law.
Shipments reportedly included such heavy conventional weapons as tanks, armoured combat vehicles and aircraft, helicopters, large-caliber artillery and missile systems and uncrewed combat aerial vehicles alongside remotely operated munitions, small arms and light weapons and their ammunition. She also pointed to reports of States transferring, or planning to transfer, weapons such as uncrewed aerial vehicles, ballistic missiles and ammunition to the Russian armed forces and that these weapons have been used and are likely to be used in Ukraine. But, No one is listening to the UN or on Disarmament issues.
Zelensky now repeatedly emphasizes Kyiv’s readiness to negotiate an “End to the War.” The Victory Plan is based on US-NATO Western allies of their military assistance. ‘Victory’ towards ‘Peace’ has to be on your own strengths and not depend totally on Western support.
Zelensky in an interview has hinted at one overreaching message: “Ukraine is fighting a war not only with Western backing but on behalf of the West. The idea is to ensure that Ukraine gets iron-clad security guarantees from its allies and is well armed to prevent Russia to attack again.