Tuesday, October 23, 2024 - Ukraine's president, Volodimir Zelenskyy is hoping allies will take a more positive stance on his “victory plan” after the U.S. election, but concedes that its key demand, an invitation to join NATO is not welcomed by some major Western partners, in particular Germany.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia was also likely looking at
the post election scenario in the U.S. to assess the possibility of cease-fire
talks with Ukraine. He assessed that if partial cease-fire deals could be
reached over attacks on energy infrastructure and Black Sea shipping routes, it
would signal the end of the “hot phase” of the war.
Zelenskyy spoke to journalists on Monday and his comments
were embargoed until Tuesday.
He said the U.S. is analyzing his plan, but he doesn't
expect a meaningful response until after the Nov. 5 election.
“They said, yes, we’ve
started working on the Victory Plan, they want to analyze everything, and so
on. But it’s very clear to me that all the major partners, especially during
the election period, will be afraid of Russia’s reaction,” he said. “Because they
understand that with this package, we can destroy them.”
On NATO, Zelenskyy said France, Britain and Italy have shown
signs of support. Germany has reservations, however, and Zelenskyy believes
only a U.S. green light will convince Berlin to accept the idea.
"But the fact is that
the German side is skeptical about our NATO membership — that’s a fact. I
believe their stance is softer than it was before — this is also a fact.
"But when it comes to
the invitation I’m talking about now, they are afraid of ... Russia’s
reaction," he said.
"I believe that their
position will be influenced by a bigger alliance. A bigger alliance in
supporting us — a confident “Yes” from the United States.”
Many significant issues will hinge on decisions taken
following the fraught election period, the president said.
“After the elections, we hope
for a more positive reaction from the U.S. — not because of a change in the
president, but because the focus of the United States is now on the elections,
and I believe that any sharp statements from the U.S. today might be inappropriate
or carry risks. I think they don’t want unnecessary risks,” he said.
Asked if he faced pressure from allies to end the war,
Zelenskyy joked, saying, “Over the years, people’s overall blood pressure
rises.”
He dismissed reports of a possible cease-fire scenario in
which Ukraine exchanged occupied territories for NATO membership.
“We are not discussing this.
But I think that these media leaks are not accidental. Perhaps some partners
may have such thoughts. They don’t communicate this directly with me, but
through the media, it’s clear they’re testing its reception."
He said the end of the “hot phase” of the war would commence
if a deal could be reached with Russia to halt attacks on energy infrastructure
and Black Sea ports and shipping routes. In this case, attacks on military
targets would continue as well as front-line fighting, he said.
He said he plans to convince countries of the Global South
to embrace Ukraine's plan as another way to push Moscow to agree to Kyiv's
terms.
Zelenskyy said his country is not pursuing nuclear weapons
to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin.
“We are not asking to be
given or returned nuclear weapons.
My position is very clear. We
gave them up, but we got nothing in return. And we only received a full-scale
war and many casualties, so today we have only one way out. That’s why we need
NATO, because we don’t have the weapons that can stop Putin.”
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