Volodymyr Zelensky Photo | AP
World

Zelensky rules out ceding territory in 'Victory Plan'

In his speech, Zelensky criticised China, Iran and North Korea for supporting Russia, calling them a "coalition of criminals".

AFP

KYIV: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday ruled out ceding any of the country's territory to Russia while presenting a long-awaited "Victory Plan" to parliament.

In a speech laying out his five-point plan to MPs, Zelensky said the solution to end more than two years of war was not a frozen conflict, and "not a trade in Ukraine's territory or sovereignty".

He also urged Western allies to extend an "invitation to join NATO now", claiming that Moscow had been undermining European security because Kyiv is not a member of the US-led defence alliance.

Zelensky reiterated calls for the West to lift restrictions on Ukraine's use of long-range arms on military targets deep in Russian territory.

In addition, he asked for help in "equipping our reserve brigades".

Ukraine proposes "to deploy a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package on its territory" that would be "sufficient to protect Ukraine from any military threat from Russia," Zelensky said.

After the war, the president said he envisaged "replacing certain military contingents of the US Armed Forces stationed in Europe with Ukrainian units".

In his speech, Zelensky criticised China, Iran and North Korea for supporting Russia, calling them a "coalition of criminals".

He said he would present the plan to European leaders at a summit Thursday.

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