Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's victory plan for Ukraine to win the war next year has received only "lukewarm rhetorical support" from Western allies, The New York Times reports.
NYT says some military analysts and diplomats told the publication that the real audience for Zelenskyy's plan might be Ukrainians.
"Mr. Zelenskyy can use his hard sell [...] to show Ukrainians that he has done all he can, prepare them for the possibility that Ukraine might have to make a deal and give Ukrainians a convenient scapegoat: the West," NYT wrote.
After weeks of lobbying his plan among Western leaders, the Ukrainian President has exhausted the possibilities, but at least he can say he’s tried, one of the NYT sources said.
"I'm not insisting that they do it exactly this way," Zelenskyy said in a recent interview session with reporters. "I said it will work. If you have an alternative, then please, go ahead."
According to NYT, US officials privately called Zelensky's victory plan unrealistic and overly reliant on Western aid. Speaking anonymously about sensitive military details, one official cited a non-public proposal where Ukraine requested a “nonnuclear deterrence package” with Tomahawk missiles - a request deemed unfeasible. Tomahawks have a 1,500-mile range, over seven times that of ATACMS missiles sent to Ukraine, of which only a limited number were provided.
Four US officials told The New York Times that Zelenskyy was shocked by Biden’s refusal to authorize using US long-range missiles during their September meeting, as Biden had previously relented on weapons like Abrams tanks, F-16s, and ATACMS. Despite detailed explanations and target lists, no political decision has been made.
NYT believes that NATO membership during the war remains unlikely, despite Ukraine's aspirations. While Baltic nations and Poland appear open to the idea, the US and Germany oppose it, fearing direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.
Related:
- Lithuania demands stronger NATO response to North Korean-Russian cooperation
- Reuters: Putin again threatens “range of responses” if deep Russia strikes allowed with Western weapons
- Scholz: No immediate NATO invitation for Ukraine during wartime, supplying Tauruses “wrong”
- Politico: Seven NATO members oppose immediate membership invitation for Ukraine
- Ex-CIA chief Petraeus calls for expanded tactical missile support for Ukraine
- Biden: NATO allies split over Ukraine’s long-range strikes inside Russia
- Western weapon use restrictions for Ukraine are “militarily silly and strategically stupid,” Mike Pompeo says
