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Russia Must Lose War Against Ukraine, Zelensky Says, Calls For NATO Invitation


Russia Must Lose War Against Ukraine, Zelensky Says, Calls For NATO Invitation

He plans to present the full Victory Plan at an EU summit, while seeking further Western support and NATO membership.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has presented his long-anticipated Victory Plan to lawmakers in Kyiv, stressing that Ukraine would not give up any of its territory for peace.

The announcement comes as Ukraine faces increasing pressure to find a resolution to the conflict, which began with Russia's invasion in February 2022, AFP reports.

Zelensky dismissed any possibility of freezing the conflict or trading territory, stating, "Russia must lose the war against Ukraine."

"And this does not mean a freeze (in fighting) and it does not mean any trade in Ukraine's territory or sovereignty," he said.

His comments were made while standing alongside European Union and Ukrainian flags.

The central element of Zelensky's five-part Victory Plan is an immediate invitation to join NATO.

"The first point is an invitation to NATO, now," Zelensky said, arguing that Russia had undermined European security for decades because Kyiv was not a NATO member.

He also urged Western allies to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range weapons, which would enable Kyiv to strike Russian military targets on both Ukrainian territory and within Russia.

The Kremlin quickly rejected Zelensky's roadmap, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov calling it "some ephemeral peace plan" and urging Kyiv to reconsider its stance.

Russia continues to demand that Ukraine cede territory as a precondition for peace talks. Meanwhile, the Russian military announced that its forces had captured two more villages in eastern Ukraine -- Nevske and Krasnyi Yar -- where its troops have been steadily advancing.

Zelensky also condemned China, Iran, and North Korea for supporting Moscow, accusing Pyongyang of sending its citizens to work in Russian factories and fight alongside Russian forces.

"The coalition of criminals along with Putin already includes North Korea," Zelensky said, adding that Iran and China were also providing assistance to Russia.

Kyiv has rejected peace proposals from other countries, including those from Brazil and China, as lacking security guarantees and failing to preserve Ukraine's sovereignty.

Zelensky's plan, in contrast, calls for Russia's full withdrawal from Ukraine's internationally recognized borders.

He plans to present the full Victory Plan at an EU summit, while seeking further Western support and NATO membership.

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