By tf-lawyer.com In a recent press briefing, the Russian Foreign Ministry has strongly criticized Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s “Victory Plan,” asserting that it aims to provoke direct conflict between NATO and Russia. This statement came on October 16, the same day Zelensky called for urgent assistance from allies to help Kyiv in its fight against Russian aggression, with hopes of ending the war by next year.
Maria Zakharova, the spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, indicated that Zelensky’s address to the Ukrainian parliament could lead to significant suffering for the Ukrainian people. Zakharova claimed that Zelensky is pushing NATO into a direct confrontation with Russia and suggested that he cannot rely on his Western allies.
“I can simply inform Zelensky, in case he is unaware, that Kyiv’s partners have already demonstrated how they perceive Ukraine within this security framework: they believe Ukraine is in a coffin, with its citizens buried in the ground,” Zakharova remarked.
Russia has long condemned the West for using Ukraine as a proxy battleground against Moscow. In response, the US and NATO allies maintain that their support for Ukraine is crucial for its self-defense against what they describe as Russia’s unjust and colonial aggression.
Zakharova reiterated a warning made by President Putin in September, stating that if the West allows Ukraine to use long-range missiles supplied by them to attack within Russian territory, it would equate to a direct declaration of war against Russia. In that context, Putin indicated that Moscow would be compelled to take “appropriate actions.”
Zakharova emphasized that Zelensky is “fully aware” of the potential consequences of his call to NATO. Earlier that same day, the Kremlin suggested it was premature to delve into the specifics of Zelensky’s plans, but stressed that Kyiv must “wake up” to the futility of its current policies.
