“I can’t support Zelenskyy’s whole Victory plan,” says NATO chief Rutte

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s so-called Victory plan as a “good signal” but stopped short of fully endorsing it. 

This lukewarm response comes as Zelenskyy prepares to visit Brussels on Thursday to promote his plan, presented to Ukraine’s parliament on Wednesday.

“I can’t say I support the whole plan — that would be a bit difficult because there are many issues, of course, you need to understand better,” Rutte said.

The plan aims to end the war by securing a NATO membership invitation and continued arms shipments to force Russia to negotiate. Zelenskyy emphasized that a NATO invitation could be “truly fundamental” for peace.

Rutte acknowledged NATO’s support for Kyiv but expressed reservations. 

“We need to hammer out with Ukrainians to understand what is behind it, to see what we can and cannot do,” he said.

However, he announced the alliance would reach its €40 billion military aid target for Ukraine.

NATO has long promised Ukraine eventual membership but has yet to extend a formal invitation. This hesitation stems from concerns among member countries, including the US, about potentially being drawn into a conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

On 17 October, NATO defense ministers will meet with Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at a NATO-Ukraine Council meeting to discuss the battlefield and Ukraine’s urgent needs.

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