War in Ukraine
Kyiv expects quick answers from the West on “victory plan”

The influential head of the Ukrainian presidential office, Andriy Yermak, is pushing for quick answers from the West to the “victory plan” of the country invaded by Russia. (archive image) photo
© Denes Erdos/AP/dpa
According to Kiev’s wishes, Germany and Ukraine’s other allies should now react quickly to President Zelensky’s “victory plan”. Time is running out, they say.
The details of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “victory plan” are not yet publicly known. The head of state discussed it behind closed doors with heads of state and government during his visits to Paris, Rome and London. In Berlin on Friday he met Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.
What is known, however, is that Ukraine is demanding that the West release long-range weapons for strikes against military targets far in the Russian hinterland. The Ukrainian leadership has repeatedly stated that the aim is to destroy Moscow militarily so that it can never attack another country again. Russia is a nuclear power. Kyiv is also calling for Ukraine to be invited to NATO membership.
Kyiv praises the dynamics of drone strikes against Russia
There has been a lot of attention on the plan, Jermak said. Now we need very concrete commitments from the West. Zelenskyj brought new defense packages with him from his trip, including commitments to supply anti-aircraft systems, investments for Ukraine’s own production of drones and other weapons.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, Olexander Syrskyj, praised the dynamics of the use of drones against military targets on Russian territory on social networks. Ukraine recently hit ammunition and fuel depots, triggering huge explosions and disrupting supplies. Ukrainian media reported that this was a model for the possible significantly greater impact that the country would have with the use of long-range weapons against military targets far in the Russian hinterland.