Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday unveiled his long-awaited Victory Plan to end Russia’s invasion, rejecting any territorial concessions and urging ramped-up Western backing, including an invitation to join NATO.

After pushing back Russian troops at the start of the invasion in February 2022, Kyiv is now facing mounting pressure to find an exit strategy as its troops suffer battlefield losses and Moscow intensifies its strikes on infrastructure.

Russia has seized around a fifth of Ukraine’s territory since the invasion began, reducing towns and cities to rubble and killing thousands of civilians.

Ukraine: position of military forces. Photo: Valentin RAKOVSKY, Sophie RAMIS, Cléa PECULIER / AFP Source: AFP

But in his address to lawmakers in Kyiv on Wednesday, the 46-year-old leader ruled out the possibility that Ukraine could cede some territory to secure peace and also dismissed any pause in the conflict.

“Russia must lose the war against Ukraine. And this does not mean a freeze (in fighting) and it does not mean any trade in Ukraine’s territory or sovereignty,” Zelensky said in his speech to lawmakers, flanked by European Union and Ukrainian flags.

The number one priority in the five-part so-called Victory Plan, the Ukrainian leader said, was closer integration with the US-led NATO defence alliance.

“The first point is an invitation to NATO, now,” Zelensky said, claiming that Moscow had been undermining security in Europe for decades because Kyiv was not a member.

Kremlin derides ‘futile’ plan

Zelensky also said that his country’s Western allies should lift restrictions on Ukraine’s use of long-range weapons so Kyiv can target Russian military sites on occupied Ukrainian territory and also within Russia.

The Kremlin immediately dismissed Zelensky’s roadmap to end the grinding conflict, describing it as “some ephemeral peace plan”.

“The only peace plan there can be is for the Kyiv regime to realise the futility of the policy it is pursuing and understand the need to sober up,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

Ukrainian servicemen prepare to board an armoured vehicle to go to the front, near the town of Kurakhove in the eastern Donetsk region. Photo: Roman PILIPEY / AFP Source: AFP

Russia has demanded Kyiv abandon territory it already controls in the east and south of Ukraine as a precondition for peace talks.

The Russian military announced during Zelensky’s address to lawmakers that its forces had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine, where its forces are steadily advancing.

The ministry said the villages of Nevske and Krasnyi Yar had been “liberated”, publishing a video of destroyed buildings in Nevske with Russian flags flying from two of them.

‘Coalition of criminals’

In his address, Zelensky criticised China, Iran and North Korea for their support for Moscow, renewing accusations that Pyongyang was sending its citizens to work in Russian factories and fight alongside Russian forces.

“The coalition of criminals along with Putin already includes North Korea,” Zelensky told lawmakers. “Everyone sees the Iranian regime’s assistance to Putin, and also China’s cooperation with Russia.”

An elderly woman walks past damaged buildings in the town of Pokrovsk in the eastern Donetsk region. Photo: Roman PILIPEY / AFP Source: AFP

Kyiv has dismissed any rival plans to end the war, including those put forward by Brazil and China, saying they lack guarantees for Ukraine’s security or the war-battered country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Unlike Zelensky’s “Peace Formula,” an agenda that stipulates Russia must withdraw all its troops from Ukraine’s internationally-recognised borders, the Ukrainian leader had until Wednesday given few details about his “Victory Plan.”

He visited European leaders last week in a bid to promote the plan and secure as much aid as possible, as future backing from Washington hinges on the outcome of presidential elections next month.

On Wednesday, he said he had discussed a secret annex to the “Victory Plan” with the United States, Britain, France, Italy and Germany to deploy on Ukrainian territory a “non-nuclear strategic deterrence package” that would discourage future Russian attacks after the war.

He also said he would present his Victory Plan in full at an EU summit on Thursday, urging more Western support and an invitation to NATO.

The Vice President Kashim Shettima has departed Abuja for Sweden on a 2-day visit to represent Nigeria in bilateral engagements with the Scandinavian nation.

At the instance of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Vice President, during the working visit, will engage in high-level bilateral talks with key government officials, including a meeting with Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and the Swedish Prime Minister.

Senator Shettima will use the visit to explore opportunities for strengthened collaboration between Nigeria and Sweden in areas such as ICT, innovation, education, digitalisation, sustainable transport, mining, and agriculture.

He will also meet with key stakeholders in both the Government and Private Sector.

The Vice President will also meet with Norrsken, a Stockholm-based venture capital impact investor, which recently launched Norrsken22, a USD 205 million tech investment fund for Africa.

Norrsken22 is a technology growth fund, backed by over 30 prominent unicorn founders, partnering with exceptional entrepreneurs building Africa’s next tech giants.

The meeting with Norrsken will provide insights into how Nigerian entrepreneurs can benefit from this fund and further strengthen the technology ecosystem in Nigeria.

Notably, 40% of the investments from Norrsken22 are expected to be allocated to Nigerian technology entrepreneurs.

Twelve (12) Nigerian private sector companies that are doing business with Sweden are going independently as a private sector bloc.

While in Sweden, VP Shettima is also expected to articulate Nigeria’s economic vision and the reforms being undertaken by the administration to create a business-friendly environment in Nigeria for investors. The myriad of opportunities that abound in Africa’s largest economy will also be showcased.

The Vice President is expected back in the country on Saturday.

Stanley Nkwocha
Senior Special Assistant to The President on Media & Communications
(Office of The Vice President)
16th October, 2024

Senate President Godswill Obot Akpabio has denied reports that operatives of the Department of State Service, DSS, stormed National Assembly over alleged impeachment moves by lawmakers in the upper legislative chamber.

Akpabio informed Senators that his attention had been drawn to the reports during plenary on Wednesday.

He described the reports as fake.

The Senate President lamented that fake news was gradually taking over the media space.

“There is no limit to what online publications cannot do. This is total fake news and the impeachment of principal officers did not arise and we are all here in the National Assembly without any controversial issues.

“I learnt that they could click an AI and news will start trending to drive traffic and I am sure the traffic for this fake news is massive by now,” he said.

The Senate President later referred the matter to the Committee on Special Duties for investigation.

The report of the investigation is to be presented to the Committee of the Whole within 24 hours.