Zelenskyy's 'victory plan' met with skepticism at UN meeting
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented the so-called victory plan in New York. According to Bloomberg, however, it did not contain any turning points, but rather a "wish list." Allies did not show enthusiasm, especially as the situation became concerning with Russian armament plans.
7:26 AM EDT, September 25, 2024
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented a plan leading to victory in the war with Russia on the sidelines of the annual UN General Assembly meeting.
It was supposed to contain four main points. First, a request for Western security guarantees similar to those afforded to NATO members; second, the continuation of Ukraine's invasion of Russia's Kursk region to gain territorial bargaining chips; third, a request for "specific" advanced weapons; and fourth, international financial assistance for Ukraine's devastated economy.
According to Bloomberg, allies received Zelenskyy's plan without enthusiasm. According to the agency's sources, it did not contain groundbreaking solutions, and during internal discussions, it was rather assessed as a wish list.
More weapons
Head of the President's Office Andriy Yermak emphasized that Ukraine has increased weapons production sixfold since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion, but lacks the resources and technology to produce everything needed.
Yermak called on allies to increase and expedite the delivery of military aid packages. "Air defense equipment, drones, electronic warfare equipment, long-range systems and artillery shells are on our priority list," he specified.
He also noted that part of the victory plan is inviting Ukraine to NATO and urged partners to ignore escalation threats from Russia.
The West eyes Russian production
As Bloomberg points out, Western countries are beginning to worry about their security as Russia continues to produce weapons that could also be used beyond Ukraine.
According to a draft three-year budget obtained by the agency, Moscow plans to increase defense spending to a historically high level of 13.2 trillion rubles (142 billion dollars) in 2025.