Kyiv and Mykolaiv targeted by a major Russian drone strike

KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has outlined a series of measures that he says would turn the tide of war in Kiev’s favor and potentially end the conflict with Russia, even as its embattled country, by next year at the latest struggles to fight off a slow but relentless advance of Russian forces and the decimation of the energy infrastructure before the coming winter.

In his speech to parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, on October 16, Zelensky said called for “removing restrictions on the use of long-range weapons by partners throughout the Russian-occupied territory of Ukraine and on Russian territory, as well as on the enemy’s military infrastructure” and for assistance in “equipping our reserve brigades.”

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His five-point “victory plan,” in which he ruled out ceding Ukrainian territory, also called for an unconditional invitation for Kiev to join the NATO military alliance and the deployment of a strategic non-nuclear deterrent package in Ukraine.

Mykhaylo Podolyak, a senior adviser to Zelensky, told RFE/RL that Russia had based its “entire propaganda campaign” on Ukraine not joining NATO and used that point to justify attacks or provocations against Ukraine.

“The president (Zelensky) says we should send a clear political signal to Russia that it can no longer issue an ultimatum … and say that this is my region of influence and Ukraine cannot be a member of NATO,” Podolyak told RFE/ RL in Brussels.

Another point of the Victory Plan addresses the post-war competence of Ukraine, which, in his opinion, would have “great experience” and be able to replace certain – primarily American – contingents now in Europe .

“Our partners are investing in security today. “You should understand that there is already a specific competence of Ukraine, which will later be implemented in this form,” he said.

In his speech to parliament, the Ukrainian leader said he would present the plan at an EU summit in Brussels on October 17, adding that the plan would be discussed with leaders of the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Italy and Germany was discussed.

EU Council President Charles Michel said

EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell told RFE/RL in Brussels on October 16 that he wanted to hear directly from Zelensky before commenting on the plan, but said Ukraine must receive better and stronger security guarantees because Ukraine’s security the security of Europe.

“I think the people of Europe need to understand that in the past we have been too hesitant to provide Ukraine with the necessary military capabilities,” Borrell said. “And now we don’t have to hesitate anymore… The only way to do it.” [Russian President Vladimir] Putin … going to a negotiating table means achieving victory on the battlefield. Otherwise it wouldn’t happen.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on October 16 that the victory plan was a “strong signal” from Zelensky but that he could not say he supported it.

“That would be a little difficult because there are a lot of issues that we need to understand better,” he said.

In addition to the EU Council summit, Zelensky will attend a meeting of NATO defense ministers on October 17, also in Brussels, according to NATO’s revised agenda.

Rutte said there was “no doubt” that the victory plan would be discussed at that meeting. Responding to Zelensky’s call for an unconditional invitation to join NATO, Rutte said Ukraine was closer than ever to joining the alliance and that it would happen when the time was right.

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The Kremlin immediately rejected Zelensky’s plan, calling it a “diktat” from the US.

“The only peace plan there can be is for the Kiev regime to realize the futility of the policies it is pursuing and to understand the need to sober up,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

The State Department said the plan spelled “trouble for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people.” Zelensky is “urging NATO members to enter into a direct conflict with our country,” spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.

Zelenskiy said he expected a response to the plan before the Nov. 5 presidential election in the United States – Ukraine’s main ally and donor of financial and military aid – where a victory by Republican candidate and former President Donald Trump cast doubt on Washington Election could raise continued support for Kiev.

Zelenskiy’s presentation came as Russia continued to put pressure on Ukraine’s cities and infrastructure as Russian forces advanced in the east toward the key logistics hub of Pokrovsk.

LISTEN: Ruth Deyermond, Lecturer in the Department of War Studies at King’s College London, joins host Steve Gutterman to discuss the situation on the battlefield and the recent wave of talk about talk.

On October 16, Russia attacked Ukraine with 136 drones and two guided missiles. Most of them were neutralized by Ukrainian air defenses, the Air Force reported on Telegram.

A total of 51 drones were shot down over the regions of Sumy, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Ternopil, Kherson, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Mykolaiv, Kiev, Poltava, Chernihiv and Chernivtsi, the air force said, adding that another 60 Russian drones were drones neutralized by electronic warfare measures.

In the western Ternopil region, around 50 firefighters worked to extinguish a large fire caused by a falling drone, regional governor Vyacheslav Nehoda said wrote Telegram said there were no injuries.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said its air defense had shot down three Ukrainian drones – two over Belgorod and one over the Voronezh region.