Real steps towards peace, according to President Vladimir Zelensky, would invite Ukraine to NATO and become a member in the future.
President Vladimir Zelensky, during a visit to Croatia, said he sees an opportunity in the coming months to lay out the initial conditions for ending the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2025 on terms acceptable to Ukraine.
Western leadership
Zelensky, speaking about the “victory plan,” said that the document “Principles of Peace”, which will set detailed conditions for a just end to the war, will be ready in November. He emphasized that he sees an opportunity to lay the foundation for the end of the war in the coming months.
“In October, November, December, we have the opportunity to move things towards peace and long-term stability. The situation on the battlefield creates the opportunity to make this choice – the choice of decisive steps that will end the war without beyond 2025,” he said.
“We count on the leadership of President Biden, we count on the strong and wise steps of Britain, France, Germany and Italy to bring peace and security to Europe And we count on all of you,” Zelensky added.
NATO is the first point
Zelensky also said during his visit to Croatia that inviting Ukraine to NATO is the first point of his “success plan” as something that will ensure geopolitical security in Europe.
“The first point of the plan focuses on whether the problem of the lack of geopolitical certainty in Europe will be solved – whether Ukraine will still get a place in NATO. If so, and if it is properly confirmed, Putin is gone from a geopolitical point of view,” said Zelensky.
“Russia must recognize that in Europe there are borders, independent states and each has the right to choose its own future. The truth is that Russia’s acceptance of this reality can only begin with the realization that Ukraine is not which will be reoccupied by Russia.. Without geopolitics there is no guarantee of peace,” he added.
Without Ramstein
The meeting in the Ramstein format was postponed. Ukraine expects a new date in the near future, Zelensky said.
“The meeting in Ramstein, scheduled for this week, has now been postponed. The reason is quite obvious – natural disasters have hit America, which require the maximum attention of US President Joe Biden in the internal situation,” Zelensky said.
He emphasized that “any leader in similar circumstances would remain in his country.” I will meet separately in each country with the leaders of Great Britain, France, Italy, and Germany. I will try to do it quickly, and then in Ramstein I will present this plan to all our partners,” added the president.
More “flexible negotiation”
President Zelensky is likely preparing to take a “more flexible position” on ending the war in Ukraine amid waning Western support and the approach of winter, Bloomberg wrote, citing foreign officials on Tuesday, October 8 .
Ukrainian officials have signaled they are ready to accept the need for a resolution, the sources said, speaking on condition of anonymity because talks are being held behind closed doors.
Bloomberg writes that the protracted war, Western budget pressure and the US election in November have united the allies in their intention to consider a negotiated end to the war. At the same time, the unspoken details of Zelensky’s plan, on which he is consulting with the United States, can be used as “space for further development.”
The main element of any future negotiations is Ukraine’s membership in NATO. The issue still divides Ukraine’s allies, with US President Joe Biden under pressure to extend an open invitation to Kyiv to join the alliance. Although the US president is unlikely to do so, such an offer is seen as a potential bargaining chip for any negotiations with Russia.
Source: korrespondent
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