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Volodymyr Zelenskyy will press Joe Biden for binding safety ensures earlier than the US president leaves workplace to bolster Ukraine’s place and compel Russia to hitch peace talks.
The Ukrainian chief has in current months stepped up preparations for potential negotiations with Moscow in anticipation of a shift in US coverage following November’s presidential election.
Zelenskyy ordered an invasion of the Kursk area of Russia in August to gain territory as leverage in future talks and has mentioned he’s prepared for a peace convention with Moscow’s involvement.
Chatting with journalists forward of a US journey subsequent week the place he’ll attend the UN Common Meeting and maintain talks with Biden, Zelenskyy mentioned he would current a “victory plan” to the US president that he hoped would finish the battle.
Zelenskyy mentioned the plan, which he needs to be applied by the top of December, would strengthen Ukraine and drive Russia to the negotiating desk.
“The victory plan, this bridge to strengthening Ukraine, can contribute to extra productive future diplomatic conferences with Russia,” mentioned Zelenskyy on Friday afternoon in Kyiv.
He described the initiative as Biden’s alternative to go down in historical past because the president who secured Ukrainian independence. He emphasised that the plan wanted to be applied earlier than Biden left workplace in January.
“I feel it is a historic mission,” mentioned Zelenskyy. “Let’s do all this at present, whereas all of the officers who need the victory of Ukraine are in official positions.”
Ukraine has misplaced territory day by day to Russia this 12 months and Moscow has proven no signal that it was prepared to barter.
The Ukrainian chief outlined the 4 factors of the “victory plan” however declined to enter element.
The primary level, he mentioned, had been additional safety ensures. Ukraine has just lately signed long-term commitments with the US and different western allies however needs more durable assurances akin to the mutual defence assure that comes with Nato membership.
The second was Ukraine’s Kursk operation, which he mentioned was “fulfilling” its activity of diverting Russian offensive energy.
Zelenskyy’s third request was for “particular” superior weapons. He didn’t elaborate on the kind of weapons system he wished. The fourth was the joint growth of Ukraine’s economic system along with its companions.
“Right this moment you assist us within the implementation of this plan and sooner or later Ukraine will prevent plenty of your sources,” mentioned Zelenskyy.
Zelenskyy doesn’t view the “victory plan” as a alternative for his “peace system”, a 10-point initiative primarily based on the UN Constitution that lays out a framework for an enduring settlement.
Relatively, it would give Ukraine what it must get Russia to the negotiating desk the place the peace system can be mentioned, he mentioned.
Zelenskyy once more dominated out a Minsk-style peace settlement the place the battle can be frozen, stating that Russia would solely invade once more. “We’d like a simply and steady peace,” mentioned Zelenskyy.
Each Brazil and China have put ahead various peace plans to Ukraine’s peace system. Zelenskyy mentioned these plans lacked element and labored as “political icebreakers” towards the UN Constitution.
After talking on the UN on Wednesday in New York, Zelenskyy will journey to Washington to current the plan to Biden and Vice-president Kamala Harris, who’s working towards Donald Trump in November’s election.
He plans to fulfill Trump after his go to to Washington, he mentioned.
