KYIV: Ukraine’s “victory plan” in the war against Russia depends on quick decisions being taken by allies this year, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Friday during a visit by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
While seeking for expanded external support, Zelensky said senior Ukrainian officials have agreed in an “emotional” discussion that the country needs to make more weaponry domestically and speed up production.
In a joint press conference with von der Leyen, the Ukrainian leader said his country planned to use a proposed multi-billion dollar European Union loan for air defense, energy and domestic weapons purchases.
Zelensky singled out the importance of US President Joe Biden to the victory plan, which he said the two leaders will discuss when they meet. The Ukrainian leader is traveling to the United States next week.
“Most of the decisions from the plan depend specifically on him (Biden). On other allies too, but there are certain points which depend on the goodwill and support of the United States,” Zelensky said.
Zelensky has provided regular updates on the plan’s preparation but has given few clues to the contents, indicating only that it aims to create terms acceptable to Ukraine after more than 2-1/2 years of war following Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“The entire plan is predicated upon quick decisions from our partners. The plan is predicated upon decisions which should take place from October to December, and not delaying these processes,” he told the press conference alongside von der Leyen.
Zelensky said in his nightly video address that he was counting on Biden’s support for the plan, intended not only to bring peace but also strengthen his country.
“Ukraine is counting very much on this support,” he said. “And this is fair. Because when one nation wins the battle for its independence and adherence to international law, the whole world wins.”
Domestic weapons
Zelensky said munitions production was the focus of a meeting with senior officials, including his defense and foreign ministers and top military commanders.
“We discussed the issue of drone production and providing drones to all elements of the defense and security forces in great detail, even emotionally,” he said in his nightly video address.
“We also talked today about the production of missiles, electronic warfare systems and cooperation with partners...The main thing is not just to have contracts and funding for them but also the speed of actual production and real supply.”
Zelensky issues almost daily appeals for Ukraine’s Western allies to provide more military assistance, mainly long-range weapons and air defense systems, but has also focused on stepping up domestic production.
The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 has spurred drone production by both sides.
Zelensky said late last year that Ukraine aimed to produce a million drones in 2024 and a Ukrainian minister said in March that it could double that rate if it received additional financial support from the United States.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow was boosting production by around 10 times to nearly 1.4 million this year.
