Yesterday at 20:05
Victory over Russia requires both deterring it now and preventing future aggression, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a joint press conference with Finnish President Alexander Stubb, Ukrinform reports.
“Security guarantees can be introduced after the war ends, but some steps can and must be taken even before that,” Zelenskyy said.
The President recalled that before Donald Trump’s re-election, he presented the former U.S. President with a Victory Plan.
“In my view, the Victory Plan is about stopping Russia now and denying it the chance to repeat aggression. Today, our security guarantees rest on a strong Ukrainian army, the presence of European partners, American backing, sanctions, and reconstruction. The plan I presented was based on immediate steps – not waiting until the war ends – and this is what can force Russia to stop,” he noted.
The plan, according to Zelenskyy, included:
- Strengthening Ukraine’s army with long-range weapons.
- EU membership, with a set date to signal irreversibility.
- A NATO invitation as leverage, even if full membership was not yet possible.
- A sanctions framework, detailing which restrictions would be lifted if Russia ended the war, and which additional sanctions would be imposed if it refused.
Zelenskyy stressed that sanctions and EU accession are today Ukraine’s most reliable security guarantees.
“Sanctions against Russia’s state and trade are vital. Much depends on the United States. Today we discussed how Europe and America can combine efforts to intensify pressure on Russia,” he said.
He added that agreements with international partners, including the U.S., must be fully implemented and that Ukraine is working within the Coalition of the Willing to shape a modern security architecture.
EU membership, Zelenskyy underlined, is a central element:
“Ukraine is doing all the necessary work for rapid accession to the European family. There must be 27 votes in favor, and we will work to secure them,” the President concluded.
