The leaders of the European Union and NATO have given a icy receptionalthough made up with good words, at ‘plan for victory’ against Russia that Volodymyr Zelensky has presented to them in person. The president of Ukraine traveled to Brussels this Thursday to participate in the European Council and later meet with the new secretary general of the Atlantic Alliance, Mark Rutte. But he returns to kyiv empty-handed.
In his speech before the summit of European leaders, Zelensky briefly outlined the five points of your victory plan. The first two far exceed the red lines that most allies (especially Germany and the United States) have set to avoid direct confrontation with Russia. The president of Ukraine demands a Immediate invitation to join NATOas well as being allowed use long-range missiles supplied by the EU and the US to attack Russian territory.
“Ukraine really deserves to become a member of NATO,” Zelensky said in his joint press conference with Rutte. “Right now, inviting Ukraine to join NATO would strengthen us diplomatically and it would bring us closer to a real and, what is very important, just peace,” says the Ukrainian president.
At his side, the secretary general of the Atlantic Alliance has interrupted him on several occasions, emphasizing that kyiv will be a member of NATO one day, even hitting the lectern to emphasize his words. But you haven’t even mentioned the question of the invitation. “Ukraine will be in NATO and until that happens, We will ensure that Ukraine has everything it needs to prevail“Rutte insisted.
In the morning, when Zelensky was not with him, the NATO Secretary General limited himself to repeating the formula that the allies agreed upon at the Washington summit in July: kyiv’s path to NATO is “irreversible”but your entry has no date. The majority of member states, including Spain, consider that it will not be able to become a member at least until after the war. “The question is when, and I can’t give an answer now.“Rutte admitted.
“We are by your side as long as necessary, whatever the cost. We know that you need more military support and more financial support. This is urgent. We will see how we can accelerate more immediate support to the people of Ukraine, from a military and financial point of view,” the President of the European Council, Charles Michel, told Zelensky when receiving him for his meeting with the heads of State and Government. of the 27.
However, the final conclusions of the European Council They don’t even mention the ‘plan for victory’ that the President of Ukraine has presented to them and they do not announce any new support measures either. Once again, the Prime Minister of Hungary has been the harshest with Zelensky by crossing out his plan of “beyond terrifying”. Viktor Orbán has asked French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz to negotiate peace with Vladimir Putin.
“If the allies do not support us in all elements (of the plan), it will be extremely difficult for us and it will be a gift to Russia in the world,” Zelensky complained after his meeting with European leaders.
For the head of community diplomacy, Josep Borrell, the EU must continue to support kyiv “more energetically and quickly.” “This is an existential war. Russia is an existential threat to Europe and I hope that member states continue to support Ukraine,” says Borrell.
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