The situation at a glance: Zelensky presents a “victory plan” to the EU and NATO

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants to present what he calls a victory plan in the fight against the Russian war of aggression this Thursday on the European stage and at NATO. “I will present it to our EU partners at the European Council meeting,” Zelensky said. He had previously explained the plan, which primarily envisages an immediate and unconditional invitation to join NATO, for the first time in Kiev to members of the Supreme Rada, the parliament.

According to him, there was “strong support from all parliamentary parties and groups”. However, the opposition around ex-President Petro Poroshenko in the Rada criticized the plan as not very realistic. From Russia it was said that Zelensky did not explain in any of the five points how he wanted to resolve the conflict, but was instead trying to drag the Western allies even deeper into the war. He had already presented the plan last week in Rome, Paris and London behind closed doors. In Berlin he inaugurated Chancellor Olaf Scholz (SPD). Now all EU members should be brought into the picture. Ukraine has been defending itself against the Russian war of aggression for more than two and a half years.

At the summit of the heads of state and government of the 27 EU countries, discussions about the war in Ukraine are only one topic alongside questions of migration policy and the situation in the Middle East. Zelenskyj also wants to meet the defense ministers of NATO countries during his visit to Brussels. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte will receive Zelensky at headquarters, said alliance spokeswoman Farah Dakhlallah. There should be a joint press conference between Rutte and Zelensky at 6:20 p.m.

Drone attacks again at night

Meanwhile, fighting between Russia and Ukraine continues unabated. Groups of Russian combat drones again attacked large parts of Ukraine in the evening and at night, the Ukrainian Air Force announced. An air alert was declared in most regions.

Meanwhile, Russian air defense shot down three Ukrainian drones in the Bryansk region near the border. The region’s governor, Alexander Bogomas, announced this on the Telegram platform that night. There was therefore no damage or injuries. The information provided by both warring parties could not be independently verified.

Opportunity to clarify open questions about the “Victory Plan”

The visit to NATO headquarters is also an opportunity for Zelenskyj to answer outstanding questions about his “victory plan.” Rutte said in an initial reaction on Wednesday that he could not currently say that he supported the entire plan. There are many points that need to be better understood.

The NATO defense ministers’ meeting will, among other things, focus on the situation in Ukraine and further support options for the country. Rutte had recently expressed fears that Ukraine could be facing the harshest winter since the Russian war of aggression began in February 2022.

With regard to the issue of Ukraine joining NATO, Rutte referred to the decisions of the recent NATO summit in Washington. In his case, supporters of a quick invitation were unable to prevail against opponents such as the USA and Germany. The alliance states could only agree to give Ukraine a general assurance that it could no longer be stopped on its way into the defense alliance.

Zelensky thanks USA and Australia for further military aid

The Ukrainian head of state thanked the USA and Australia for further military aid in the short message service X. US support is unwavering, he said after a conversation with US President Joe Biden. He not only offered Biden an expansion of cooperation in the production of weapons. “We also talked about the importance of additional training for Ukrainian soldiers,” he said. Biden releases additional military aid worth $425 million (€391 million).

The package includes additional air defense capabilities, armored vehicles and ammunition, the White House said. Biden also promised Zelenskyj in the phone call that the US wanted to send Kiev, among other things, “hundreds of anti-aircraft missiles, dozens of tactical air defense systems, additional artillery systems and significant amounts of ammunition” in the coming months. According to Zelensky, Australia is handing over 49 Abrams tanks to Ukraine in a “courageous decision”.

According to the White House, Zelensky also informed Biden about how Russia should be defeated. Ukraine is calling for the release of long-range Western weapons for attacks on military targets deep in the Russian hinterland. So far there are restrictions on this. Ukraine primarily uses its own drones for attacks.

Biden and the Ukrainian president have instructed their teams to “initiate further consultations on the next steps.” The USA is considered Ukraine’s most important supporter. Biden’s administration has provided billions of dollars in military aid to Kyiv. There is also further support in the form of non-military financial aid.

Conference aims to advance demining in Ukraine

Large areas of Ukraine are contaminated with hundreds of thousands of mines, cluster munitions and unexploded ordnance. This Thursday, an international conference in Lausanne, Switzerland will focus on how demining can be linked to social and economic reconstruction. Last year, Ukraine estimated the cost of the complete evacuation at around 34 billion euros.

Among other things, representatives from more than 50 countries as well as international organizations and civil society discussed new methods for faster investigations of potentially contaminated areas and new financing models. The UN Development Program (UNDP), for example, proposes bonds from the Ukrainian government that combine demining with the introduction of sustainable agricultural practices. Proceeds from the bond could, among other things, flow back into mine clearance.