Zelenskiy lays out “victory plan” and presses for invitation to join NATO
- 17 October, 13:05
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has called on EU leaders to issue “immediate” invitation for his country to join NATO to deal a “decisive blow” to Russian leader Vladimir Putin.
Addressing the EU’s 27 leaders at a Brussels summit on Thursday, Zeleskiy also pitched his e pitched his five-point “victory plan” to bring the war with Russian to an end in Ukraine’s terms.
“If we start now and follow the victory plan, we can end this war no later than next year,” he said, adding that a “deterrence package” on Ukrainian land, he said, “would either force to participate in real peace negotiations, or allow for the destruction of their military targets”.
Ukraine seeks an immediate invitation to join Nato, with membership later.
Zelenskiy’s visit to Brussels comes during critical time as Ukraine is losing ground to advancing Russian forces in eastern Donbas region. “Putin must just see that his political calculations are worthless,” Zelenskiy said.
Meanwhile, Secretary-General Mark Rutte reassured Zelenskiy Ukraine would join the Western military alliance.
“Ukraine will be in NATO. Until that happens, we will make sure that Ukraine has everything it needs to prevail,” Rutte said, standing beside Zelenskiy at a press conference.
