We have gathered the latest news about Ukraine, including key updates on the war and international support. The overview includes the latest news about Ukraine, the war in Ukraine, NATO support, as well as international aid to Ukraine. This digest covers the main events that occurred over the past week in Ukraine and around the world.
Zelenskyy presented Ukraine’s victory plan to the Parliament
On October 16, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Ukraine’s victory plan to the Verkhovna Rada. According to him, it includes points that are carefully timed, and if everything goes according to plan, the war can end by the end of 2025.
Zelenskyy also noted that it is necessary to implement the victory plan in order to force Russia to participate in the peace summit and be ready to end the war.
The document presented by the president consists of five sections:
- Ukraine’s invitation to NATO before the war ends. According to Zelenskyy, this will be a “testimony of determination” and show how partners see Ukraine in the “security architecture”.
- Strengthening defense. This point includes continuing operations on Russian territory, lifting restrictions on strikes on its territory; removing air defense systems, jointly shooting down Russian aviation with partners, expanding the use of Ukrainian drones and missiles; access to partner intelligence data.
- Deterrence. This point provides for the deployment of a comprehensive non-nuclear deterrence package that will protect against Russian aggression and limit its capabilities.
- Development of Ukraine’s strategic economic potential and strengthening sanctions.
- Post-war involvement of Ukrainian military in NATO and European defense. After the war, Ukrainian forces can apply their experience to strengthen NATO and European defense. U.S. contingents could be replaced by Ukrainian forces.
The second, third, and fourth points have classified annexes that were presented to partners.
Mark Rutte suggests Ukraine will become the 33rd or 34th NATO member
Ukraine will join NATO in the future and become the 33rd or 34th member of the Alliance. This was stated by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte during a meeting of NATO defense ministers in Brussels on October 17.
In response to Zelenskyy’s call for Kyiv to receive an invitation to join NATO, Rutte said that Ukraine’s path to the alliance is irreversible.
In the future, NATO will have Ukraine as its 33rd or 34th member. It currently looks like Ukraine will be the 33rd, – he said.
The NATO head also suggested that, theoretically, another country could overtake Ukraine. Bosnia and Herzegovina is officially a candidate for NATO membership, but membership has also been promised to Ukraine and Georgia in the future, although without specific dates.
Ukraine urged Brazil to arrest Putin at the G20 summit – Kostin
Ukraine has received information that Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin may attend the G20 summit in Brazil next month. Therefore, Ukraine is urging Brazilian authorities to execute the arrest warrant for him.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin urged Brazil to enforce the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrant for the Russian leader, emphasizing the importance of uniting the global community to hold Putin accountable.
Given the information about Putin’s potential visit to the G20 summit in Brazil, I want to once again stress that the Brazilian authorities, as participants in the Rome Statute, are obligated to arrest him, – Kostin said.
Ukraine’s Prosecutor General expressed hope that arresting Putin would confirm Brazil’s status as a democratic state that adheres to the rule of law.
Failure to fulfill this obligation will create a dangerous precedent, allowing accused criminal leaders to move freely around the world, – he added.
Biden: U.S. is ready for talks with Russia to “reduce nuclear threat”
The United States is ready to hold talks with Russia, as well as China and North Korea, to “reduce the nuclear threat”. This was stated by U.S. President Joe Biden during the Nobel Peace Prize laureates’ greeting ceremony.
He recalled his meeting with a Hiroshima survivor who reminded him of the need to “move forward to finally and forever rid the world of nuclear weapons”.
That’s why, according to him, the U.S. advocates for negotiations with Russia, China, and North Korea “without preconditions”.
Neither our countries nor the world benefit from delaying progress in reducing nuclear arsenals. Reducing the nuclear threat is crucial not despite the dangers of today’s world but because of them, – Biden believes.
He called for “inspiration” from this year’s Nobel Peace Prize laureates and to reaffirm the commitment to the “vital work of building a safer world”.
Estonia considers purchasing defense products from Ukraine – Pevkur
Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur stated that Estonia is considering the possibility of purchasing defense products from Ukraine, but this requires the consent of the Ukrainian government.
Pevkur said that Estonia could purchase defense products from Ukraine, and the export ban would not be an obstacle if the countries reached a mutual agreement. Such cooperation would benefit both Estonia and Ukraine.
If we get consent from the Ukrainian government, then of course it can be done. It’s important to understand that if we buy, Ukraine will get more money, and they will be able to produce more for their army, – Pevkur noted.
The Estonian Defense Minister added that if the countries reach an agreement on this issue, Estonia will only purchase what is truly necessary for the country.
Zelenskyy presented victory plan at the European Council
On October 17, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy presented Ukraine’s victory plan at the European Council meeting in Brussels.
The goal of the plan is to strengthen not only Ukraine but also our entire community, the Euro-Atlantic community. You all know Russia’s psychology, and I think some of you know very well that Russia will turn to diplomacy only when it sees that force achieves nothing. This plan is exactly what is needed. And we must create the right conditions to end this war, – Zelenskyy said.
During the presentation, Zelenskyy emphasized that the victory plan is a bridge to a successful second peace summit. And it will protect not only Ukraine but also the Baltic countries, Northern Europe and Poland, the Balkans, and other regions.
Britain has frozen political dialogue with Georgia
The United Kingdom has decided to suspend the Wardrop Dialogue with Georgia at the ministerial level and cancel high-level talks between the defense ministries’ headquarters.
This was announced by British Ambassador to Georgia Gareth Ward.
The ambassador expressed hope that after the elections, the Georgian government would return to a pro-Western course and trust between the parties would be restored.
According to him, relations between the UK and Georgia, as well as with other Western partners, were damaged by the steps taken by the Georgian government this year.
He noted that the Wardrop Dialogue was frozen for the first time since the format was created. High-level talks between defense ministry leaders have also been canceled, and a new cybersecurity program has been suspended.
U.S. will now train more young Ukrainian F-16 pilots
The United States is redirecting the training of Ukrainian F-16 fighter pilots to younger cadets rather than experienced military personnel. This decision may delay the moment when Ukraine will have a fully combat-ready squadron of F-16s.
The reason for this decision is the lack of experienced Ukrainian pilots with sufficient English language skills. The U.S. also believes that younger military personnel will be more open to the Western style of training.
