German chancellor rejects Zelenskyy’s "Victory Plan" over escalation concerns

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz has declined to endorse key elements of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposed “Victory Plan”, citing fears that it could exacerbate the ongoing conflict.

During a speech in Brussels, Scholz stated his intention to block a swift invitation for Ukraine to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Caliber.Az reports per German media.

He referenced the recent summit in Washington, where no consensus was reached on the issue, with both the United States and Germany opposing it.

The resolution emphasised that an invitation to NATO could only be extended once all allies consented and the necessary conditions for admission were met. These conditions include reforms in democracy, the economy, and security sectors.

Scholz further commented that NATO is unwilling to become involved in the conflict to prevent this war from escalating into an even greater catastrophe.

"Our position is clear. We support Ukraine as much as possible. At the same time, we ensure that NATO does not become a party to the conflict, so that this war does not lead to an even greater catastrophe. We are well aware of this responsibility, and no one can take it away from us," he said.

According to Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, the implementation of this plan will largely hinge on the outcome of the upcoming US presidential elections.

Tusk acknowledged at a press conference that differing views among EU member states regarding Ukraine's NATO membership contributed to the lack of harmony. He highlighted that NATO membership was a central theme of Zelenskyy's plan and recalled Poland's historical support for Ukraine's accession to the alliance.

The Prime Minister noted that it is challenging to assess the realism of Zelenskyy's plan at this stage, emphasising that much will depend on the results of the US elections. Tusk confirmed that the strategies outlined in the plan will be reassessed following the elections.

Notably, on October 16, President Zelenskyy presented his “Victory Plan” for the Russian-Ukrainian conflict during a session of the Verkhovna Rada. This strategy outlines five key objectives and includes three confidential annexes focused on geopolitics, defence, deterrence, economic potential, and post-war arrangements.

Among the proposals is a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence package, which aims to enhance the joint defence of Ukraine's vital resources in partnership with the US and EU allies. Zelenskyy highlighted that Ukraine's deposits of critical resources, alongside its significant energy and food production capacities, are major targets for Russia in the ongoing war.

For the post-war scenario, he suggested that Ukrainian troops could take the place of some US military units in Europe, utilising their combat experience. The plan has been communicated to key allies, including the US, Britain, France, Italy, and Germany.

However, reports indicate that some partners have raised concerns about the tight deadline imposed by Zelenskyy, who has requested that the main provisions of the plan be enacted by the end of 2024.

By Aghakazim Guliyev