US offers new security aid to Ukraine, Zelensky unveils victory plan

U.S. President Biden said in a phone call with Ukrainian President Zelensky on October 16 that the United States will provide Kyiv with $425 million in security assistance, which will further enhance Ukraine’s air defense capabilities. Zelensky announced the Victory Plan, which includes unconditional membership in NATO, saying that the war can end by next year at the latest. NATO Secretary-General Rutte said that the plan proposed by Zelensky was a “strong signal.” The White House said in a statement on Wednesday that in order to meet Ukraine’s urgent needs in the war against Russia, the United States will provide Ukraine with hundreds of air defense interceptors, dozens of tactical air defense systems, additional artillery systems, and a large amount of ammunition, hundreds of armored personnel carriers, infantry fighting vehicles, and thousands of additional armored vehicles in the coming months. Zelensky thanked the United States for the new batch of aid and said that he talked to Biden about his “Victory Plan”, and he proposed to consider the possibility of joint production of weapons, and he and Biden also discussed the importance of additional training for Ukrainian soldiers. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky delivered a speech in Congress on Wednesday, announcing his “Victory Plan” aimed at ending Russian aggression. The plan has five major points: Ukraine is invited to join NATO without conditions, Ukraine’s defense capabilities are strengthened, a comprehensive non-nuclear strategic deterrence plan is established in Ukraine, joint investment with the West to protect Ukraine’s natural mineral resources, and a proposal to allow the Ukrainian military to play a role in strengthening NATO security after the war. Zelensky believes that if the “Victory Plan” is implemented now, the war can be ended by next year at the latest.