Ukraine’s NATO Membership Key to Victory: Kyiv

The Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, Andriy Yermak, has confirmed that Ukraine’s accession to NATO is a central element of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plan for victory.

Speaking at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York, Yermak stated, “The invitation of Ukraine to NATO is part of the 'victory plan.' I also urged our partners not to take into account the threats of escalation from Russia.”

Yermak noted that since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, Ukraine has increased its arms production sixfold.  He urged partners to increase investments in Ukrainian arms production and stressed the importance of granting Ukraine permission to strike targets on the territory of the Russian Federation and use frozen Russian assets to support the country.

President Zelenskyy, in an interview with ABC News, emphasized that the war with Russia is likely to end sooner than many expect. “I think we're closer to peace than we think. We are closer to the end of the war,” he said. However, Zelenskyy urged Western countries to increase their support for Ukraine’s military, highlighting that “the plan for victory is to strengthen Ukraine.”

Zelenskyy outlined that Ukraine’s path to peace is not about negotiating with Russia but pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin into stopping the war. “We must put pressure on Putin to stop the war. It’s not about negotiations with Russia,” Zelenskyy claimed, adding that Ukraine must approach any diplomatic path from a position of strength.

In his remarks, Zelenskyy noted that Russian leadership is fearful of Ukraine's military operations, referencing Putin’s concerns over Ukraine’s recent successes. “He is very afraid...because his people have seen that he cannot defend his entire territory,” Zelenskyy said.

The President also reiterated his call for more decisive action from international partners, which, according to him, could accelerate the end of Russia's aggression by next year. Zelenskyy’s plan includes long-range strikes inside Russia, increased NATO support, and the full implementation of his "Zelensky Peace Formula."

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy held a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York, their third bilateral discussion this year. Their previous meetings took place on June 14th on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Italy and on August 23rd during Modi’s visit to Kyiv.

Prime Minister Modi, who has maintained dialogue with both Ukraine and Russia, reiterated India’s support for a swift resolution to the conflict. “We are committed to implementing the outcomes of my visit to Ukraine last month to strengthen bilateral relations. Reiterated India’s support for early resolution of the conflict in Ukraine and restoration of peace and stability,” the Indian PM said.

Zelenskyy reported that their conversation focused on strengthening cooperation on international platforms, such as the United Nations and G20, and advancing Ukraine’s Peace Formula.

The meetings between Modi and Zelenskyy come as another opportunity arises for Modi to meet with Russian President Putin on the sidelines of the BRICS summit in Kazan. Putin has stated that leaders like Modi are credible interlocutors for peace in Europe, a sentiment shared by Zelenskyy.