Zelensky to Unveil Strategic 'Victory Plan' to the U.S.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that a recent Ukrainian military maneuver into Russia’s Kursk region is part of a broader “victory plan,” which he intends to present to U.S. President Joe Biden in the coming month. Speaking at a forum on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasized that the plan’s success hinges significantly on the level of support provided by the United States, as well as their willingness to let Ukraine execute it fully.
While some might see this strategy as overly bold, Zelensky stressed its importance for Ukraine’s future. He also mentioned that he would be discussing this plan with U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump, highlighting its significance for Ukraine’s national security and sovereignty.
In early August, Ukrainian troops crossed into Russia’s Kursk region, and so far, Russian forces have struggled to push them back. General Oleksandr Syrskyi, a senior Ukrainian military leader, stated at the same forum that Ukraine currently controls approximately 1,294 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory, including 100 settlements. However, these figures remain unconfirmed by independent sources such as the BBC. General Syrskyi clarified that Ukraine does not plan to retain this territory permanently. The incursion was meant to distract Russian troops from their ongoing offensive in eastern Ukraine, particularly around the strategic town of Pokrovsk, a key transport hub with a vital railway station.
President Zelensky also disclosed that Ukraine had successfully tested its first domestically-produced ballistic missile. While he praised Ukraine’s defense industry for this achievement, he withheld further details about the missile. Despite already having used U.S.-supplied ballistic missiles against Russian targets, Ukraine aims to boost its domestic military production to reduce its reliance on Western support. Currently, Ukraine’s defense still heavily depends on foreign military aid to counter Russian aggression.
Zelensky noted that newly arrived F-16 fighter jets from Western allies have been used to intercept recent missile attacks launched by Russia, though he stressed the need for additional aircraft. Over the past two nights, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine, launching numerous drone and missile strikes that have resulted in several deaths and widespread power outages.
The recent barrage of attacks indicates that Russia has no intention of de-escalating the conflict, according to Zelensky. “If they were serious about peace talks, they wouldn’t be launching 230 air strikes,” he said.
Following the Ukrainian incursion into Kursk, the possibility of peace negotiations has diminished. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated on Tuesday that “the topic of negotiations at the moment has pretty much lost its relevance,” signaling a hardening stance from Moscow.
