Zelensky’s ‘Victory Plan’ is a mystery. It’s unclear what it seeks to achieve and what it could accomplish by extending NATO’s umbrella over parts of the country’s territory.
On July 11, 2024, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky speaks at a press conference held with NATO Secretary Jens Stltenberg during the 2024 NATO Summit. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
Ukraine is seeking NATO membership as part of its plan for ending the war with Russia. Recent reports suggest that Kyiv and its allied countries are seriously considering a West Germany-style model.
During a visit to the U.S. in September, Andriy Yermak, the head of the presidential office, said that the “victory plan” of President Volodymyr Zelensky to end the bloody battles raging now for more than two-and-a-half years included joining the alliance.
Former NATO Secretary General Jens Stltenberg told Financial Times that it may be possible to achieve Ukraine’s long-awaited NATO membership, even after Russia invaded Ukraine on a full-scale in 2022.
In an interview published by the FT on October 4, Stoltenberg said: “If there’s a line, it’s not necessarily the internationally recognised border.”
Stoltenberg, citing historical examples such as NATO’s protection of West Germany or Japan receiving security guarantees from the U.S. while cautioning that “no comparisons are 100 percent accurate”, suggested a model of membership for parts of Ukraine controlled by Kyiv. About 20 percent of Ukrainian land is controlled by Russia.
“When there’s a will to solve the problem, there are solutions.” “When there is a will, there are ways to find a solution.”
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