The West is pondering how to respond to Zelensky's victory plan.

For over a week, Western analysts have been examining Ukraine's victory plan, presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky. This plan has sparked numerous discussions among Western politicians and experts. The key elements of the strategy, including Ukraine's invitation to NATO, elicit varied reactions both in Europe and the U.S., particularly due to fears of potential escalation of the war.

The Informant delved into the current political reactions, identifying the vocal critics of the proposed victory plan and the prevailing opinions among experts. Notably, the victory plan has revealed a worrying issue regarding the lack of unanimous opinion among Ukraine's partners, who de jure declare their desire to end the war with the aggressor country, but de facto maintain a very delicate stance against Russia, and at times even flirt with Putin.

Political Reactions and the Voices of Putin's Puppets

One of the most vocal critics of Zelensky's victory plan has been Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban. He openly stated that with such a plan, "victory is impossible." Orban emphasized that Hungary does not support this plan as it does not align with the interests of his country. He also expressed some skepticism regarding the plan to end the war, questioning "if they are now moving to a victory plan, did they have a defeat plan before?"

"We have not participated in the war until now and will not participate in it now. With such a plan, victory is impossible," said a supporter of the Putin-Trump line.

The politician reiterated his call for negotiations with Russia during an appearance on Kossuth Radio. He stressed the need for a ceasefire rather than escalating military tensions. However, he noted that it would be better to negotiate from a position of strength, but "we are weak."

"We need a ceasefire and peace negotiations... A good idea is not to fight, but to achieve a ceasefire and end the war. Everyone has a war strategy; we have a peace strategy," he insists, yet he has no concrete proposals on how to achieve this, despite his July gestures and travels to Russia, Ukraine, Azerbaijan, and even China.

In addition to his statements, Orban reached out to German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron, urging them to "start negotiations with Russia on behalf of the entire European Union as soon as possible to find a way out of this situation." Whether Orban's words had an impact or whether the "Victory Plan" with its five points and three secret appendices is truly unacceptable, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz also took a rather critical stance. He rejected the key provisions of Zelensky's plan due to concerns about further escalation of the war.

"The resolution emphasized that an invitation to NATO can only occur after all allies agree and all acceptance conditions are met. Such conditions include reforms in democracy, economics, and security," said Scholz while speaking in Brussels.

In fact, he stated that he would block a swift invitation for Ukraine to join NATO. He separately highlighted that a quick invitation for Ukraine to NATO is currently impossible, as it requires consensus among all allies and the implementation of reforms in Ukraine. Scholz also expressed caution regarding the supply of advanced weaponry to Ukraine, including long-range missiles.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, for his part, noted that there is no unified position among allies regarding the victory plan. However, he believes that a key point of the strategy is Ukraine's invitation to NATO.

"I wouldn't say that [among EU leaders] there is complete harmony regarding the assessment of the victory plan presented by Volodymyr Zelensky, but I didn't expect that either. Nothing new has emerged here - each country has its own opinion. In fact, this plan contains only one main thesis - the prospect of NATO membership," Tusk stated.

However, he emphasized that the implementation of this plan will depend on the outcomes of the upcoming presidential elections in the U.S. Tusk also added that different countries have their own approaches to Ukraine's membership in the Alliance, making a quick consensus unlikely.

Experts' Opinions on NATO Unity and the Pace of Ukraine's Accession to the Alliance

Experts also express varied views on the feasibility and realism of Zelensky's plan. For instance, Luke Coffey from the Hudson Institute believes that NATO still lacks unity regarding offering Ukraine an invitation to the Alliance. He emphasizes that an invitation should be extended to demonstrate political support for Ukraine, but this does not necessarily mean immediate membership.

"We need to give Ukraine an invitation to join NATO. Invite them as soon as possible... For some reason, President Biden is very cautious about this issue. I believe Ukraine should be extended an invitation, and this does not mean NATO membership; it is an obligation," stresses the American analyst.

Former U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Daniel Fried emphasizes that Ukraine does not have a long-term solution for its security aside from NATO membership. He also notes that the Biden administration is gradually changing its stance on this issue and has already acknowledged that Ukraine will sooner or later become part of the Alliance.

"NATO membership for Ukraine is a difficult decision. This is a country at war. So it's not simple. And the Biden administration has made significant strides on this issue," Fried said.

However, Professor Matthew Schmidt from the University of New Haven argues that President Biden's previous statements indicating that Ukraine's NATO membership is not on the immediate horizon have harmed Ukraine's position.

"I think an invitation to NATO is not enough. President Biden undermined Ukraine's position this summer when he publicly stated that NATO membership would not happen anytime soon. Since then, Zelensky has been trying to find a way to compensate for the chilling effect of those statements," Schmidt says.

Former U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine William Taylor believes that an invitation for Ukraine to NATO could take various forms – from purely political declarations or invitations along with the start of accession negotiations to invitations combined with Ukraine's gradual entry into NATO. He noted that different forms of invitation would be substantial but would not imply immediate membership in the Alliance.

"This will not be actual membership. It will not be a formal accession, as this requires an agreement between Ukraine and the Alliance, and that must begin," Taylor commented to Voice of America.

According to Taylor, such a format of invitation could be extended to Ukraine even during the war. This could force Putin to realize that he cannot win on the battlefield, as allies will continue to support Ukraine, and Ukrainians will continue to resist and defend themselves.

Some experts believe that full membership for Ukraine in the Alliance is a challenging issue and it will not be on the agenda until the war ends. However, the West should already make a strong statement that after the fighting ceases, Ukraine will become a member of NATO.

"I would like to see something concrete from NATO, even if it is not a direct invitation right now. Ukraine needs and deserves this support. I think we've seen that when it comes to Putin, only NATO can ultimately protect Ukraine. Full membership in the alliance is a difficult question now and is off the table, but there need to be very specific demands in the near future," argues Wilson Center scholar Kenneth Yalowitz.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte did not provide a clear answer regarding his support for the victory plan. Meanwhile, the Baltic countries, which fear becoming the next target of Russia, have expressed strong support for Ukraine's invitation to NATO.

Thus, Zelensky's ambitious Victory Plan has sparked extensive discussions among both politicians and experts. Despite the support for Ukraine from certain countries and experts, many Western leaders are wary of quick decisions, particularly due to the risk of further escalation of the war. At the same time, for Ukraine's long-term security, the issue of its NATO membership clearly remains crucial. However, the realization of this plan will largely depend on the political situation in the U.S. and the overall geopolitical landscape.

Zelensky's Plan, Biden's Visit to Europe, and NATO's New Strategies

Zelensky's victory plan was presented to the Ukrainian parliament on October 16, and to the EU and NATO on October 17. The plan includes: an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO, strengthening Ukraine's defense and turning the war towards Russia, deterring Russian aggression, and special strategic and economic agreements with Kyiv's partners. The fifth point pertains to the post-war period – Kyiv proposes to replace American troops in Europe with Ukrainian ones after the war. However, Zelensky informed reporters that he understands Ukraine can only join the Alliance after the war ends, but added that the invitation itself would send a clear signal to the Kremlin. The plan presented by the Ukrainian president in Brussels also included appendices regarding strengthening Ukraine with long-range missiles.

On October