To achieve a just peace, Ukraine’s defense capabilities must be strengthened within the framework of the victory plan proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, said Acting Permanent Representative of Ukraine to international organizations in Vienna, Viktoria Kuvshinnikova, at the OSCE Permanent Council, according to UkrInform.
Ukraine has intensified its push for Western approval to strike military targets deep inside Russia, urging allies to lift restrictions on the use of their donated long-range weapons. However, Western allies, particularly the US, have been reluctant to support attacks across the border, fearing potential escalation of the war.
“Resilient stability and a just peace can only be achieved through strength. Moscow must not be given more time to adapt and gather new resources. To achieve this, Ukraine’s defense capabilities must be strengthened within the framework of the victory plan. Self-imposed restrictions to protect life from terror must finally be lifted. To prevent further attacks, Ukraine needs to strike military bases and facilities in Russia,” Kuvshinnikova claimed.
In addition, the Ukrainian official emphasized the need to strengthen sanctions against Russia and close existing loopholes for bypassing them. Efforts must also be made to ensure that the Russian leadership is held accountable for its crimes, including through the creation of a special tribunal.
This tribunal aims to address the limitations of existing legal frameworks, particularly since the International Criminal Court lacks jurisdiction over the crime of aggression due to Russia‘s non-ratification of relevant treaties. Ukraine has been at the forefront of advocating for this tribunal, emphasizing that it is essential to hold high-ranking Russian officials accountable for their roles in initiating the war.
“Ukraine must finally be integrated into the Euro-Atlantic security architecture. It is necessary to effectively stop Russia on the battlefield and deter Moscow from repeating its aggression against Ukraine or any other participating state in the future,” Kuvshinnikova added.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, at the opening of the European Political Community summit in Budapest, stated that Ukraine now needs sufficient weapons from its partners, not support in negotiations, as Russian ruler Vladimir Putin is focused solely on war, and he can only be deterred through pressure.
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