EU, NATO cautious about Zelenskyy's victory plan

Mr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s supporters would be making a “huge mistake” and strengthening Russia if they did not back his five-point “victory plan”, which also calls for more weapons and allowing the use of long-range Western missiles to strike deep into Russian territory.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte (L) speaks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the NATO-Ukraine Council Working Dinner attended by North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Defense Ministers at NATO Headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, October 17, 2024. Photo: Reuters

At NATO headquarters, Secretary General Mark Rutte reassured Mr Zelenskyy that Ukraine would join the Western military alliance – reiterating a long-standing commitment – ​​but stopped short of backing calls for an immediate invitation.

"Ukraine will join NATO. Until that happens, we will make sure that Ukraine has everything it needs to prevail," he said, standing next to President Zelenskyy at a news conference.

When Mr Zelenskyy declared that Ukraine would not lose if its partners maintained unity, Secretary-General Rutte interrupted and declared: "And we will not lose that unity. You can count on that."

Mr Zelenskyy argued that formally inviting Ukraine to join NATO would make it clear to Russia that it could not win. But NATO has said Ukraine cannot join while it is at war because that would drag the alliance directly into conflict with Russia.

Some key members, such as the US and Germany, have been particularly cautious about extending membership invitations. Asked about Mr Zelenskyy's plans for the EU summit, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said: "You know the German position on the relevant issues. That will not change."

Russia condemned Mr Zelenskyy's plans on Wednesday, saying he was trying to push NATO into a direct conflict with Moscow.

Meanwhile, British Defense Secretary John Healey described the plan as a basis for discussion and said London wanted it to succeed. Some of Kiev's closest allies in the Baltic states have voiced support for Mr Zelenskyy's initiative. Lithuania's Defense Minister Laurynas Kasciunas backed a specific call for immediate NATO membership.

Huy Hoang (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/eu-va-nato-than-trong-ve-ke-hoach-chien-thang-cua-ong-zelenskyy-chua-muon-cho-ukraine-gia-nhap-post317360.html