Ukraine Victory Depends On Biden, Swift Action By Allies: Zelenskyy

Ukraine’s “victory plan” in the ongoing war against Russia hinges on timely decisions by its allies, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. During a joint press conference with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Friday, Zelenskyy emphasised the need for swift action from Ukraine’s partners to ensure the plan’s success.

EU Loan to Support Air Defence and Energy Needs

Zelenskyy outlined that Ukraine plans to allocate a proposed multi-billion dollar European Union loan towards crucial areas such as air defence, energy infrastructure, and domestic weapons procurement. These resources are vital as Ukraine continues its efforts to counter Russia’s invasion, now in its third year.

U.S. Support Key to Victory Plan

The Ukrainian president highlighted the crucial role of U.S. President Joe Biden in the execution of the plan. Zelenskyy is scheduled to meet Biden during an upcoming trip to the United States, where he will discuss the plan’s key aspects. He stressed that while support from other allies is important, several decisive elements of the plan depend on the goodwill and backing of the United States.

“Most of the decisions from the plan depend specifically on him [Biden],” Zelenskyy said, adding that decisions made by Ukraine’s partners between October and December are crucial to the plan’s success.

Limited Details on the Victory Plan

Zelenskyy has provided periodic updates on the development of the plan, though its specifics remain largely undisclosed. He has indicated that the plan aims to establish terms acceptable to Ukraine, which has endured over two and a half years of conflict since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.

“The entire plan is predicated upon quick decisions from our partners,” Zelenskyy stated, underscoring the importance of avoiding delays in decision-making to secure the desired outcomes.

(With inputs from Reuters)