Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is set to present his “victory plan” to the European Union and NATO on Thursday, advocating for an invitation to join NATO and a significant boost in military assistance for Ukraine’s efforts against Russia’s invasion.

The plan includes requests that have not yet been met by Ukraine’s allies, such as an invitation to the U.S.-led NATO military alliance and authorization to utilize Western weaponry for strikes deep within Russian territory.

Zelenskiy shared the plan with Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday during a crucial period, as Russian forces make gains in the east, a harsh winter with power outages approaches, and the uncertainty surrounding the upcoming U.S. presidential election raises concerns about the continuity of Western support. On Thursday, he will take this plan, which he believes could lead to the end of the war “no later than next year,” to a summit of European Union leaders and a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels.

He has already shared the five-point blueprint, which Zelenskiy indicated includes three confidential annexes, with prominent Western leaders, including U.S. President Joe Biden. While expressing strong support for Kyiv, none have fully endorsed the plan.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte remarked on Wednesday that the plan sends “a strong signal” from Zelenskiy, but he cautioned, “That doesn’t mean I can fully endorse the entire plan. That would be somewhat challenging, as there are numerous issues to consider.”

Rutte emphasized that NATO’s 32 member states would need to engage in detailed discussions about the plan to gain a clearer understanding. “There may be differing opinions on specific elements of the plan, but that does not imply a lack of support for Ukraine,” he stated.

NATO MEMBERSHIP CALL

NATO has announced that Ukraine will eventually become a member, although no specific timeline has been provided. However, Ukraine cannot join while engaged in active conflict, as this would involve the alliance directly in hostilities with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has pointed to Ukraine’s potential NATO membership as a justification for the invasion. In response, President Zelenskiy suggested that NATO could extend an invitation now, even if full membership is a future consideration.

“We recognize that NATO membership is a future issue, not an immediate one,” he stated to the Ukrainian parliament. “However, it is crucial for Putin to understand that his geopolitical strategies are failing. The Russian populace must realize that their leader has lost in the global arena.”

The Kremlin responded by stating it was premature to provide detailed commentary on the situation, but emphasized that Kyiv needed to “come to its senses” and acknowledge the futility of its current policies.

Zelenskiy also outlined a plan that includes the establishment of a “comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package” within Ukraine to safeguard against Russian threats and to diminish its military capabilities, though he did not provide further details. Additionally, the plan suggests that Western nations could assist in the development of Ukraine’s natural mineral resources and proposes that Ukrainian forces could take over some roles currently held by U.S. troops in Europe.