During the Cernobbio Forum, where he had the opportunity to also meet the Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky stressed the importance of find a diplomatic solution to end the conflict with Russia. During his visit to Italy, Zelensky in an interview with the Italian press declared that have a peace plan which he intends to present to US President Joe Biden and key Western leaders, including presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. While the details of the plan remain confidential, Zelensky has made it clear that his goal is to gensure the security of Ukraine and reach a sustainable conclusion to the conflict.
Zelensky: “I have a plan to show Biden, Harris and Trump”
Zelensky stressed that the peace plan will not be limited to the use of weapons alone, but will include global issues of fundamental importance. “We are talking about a concrete defense package“, he said, stressing that if Ukraine manages to obtain solid guarantees from the United States and other Western partners, this will serve as a deterrent against Russian aggressionThe first official meeting will take place with Biden, but Zelensky confirmed that he wants involve Harris and Trump too, in addition to the other G7 leaders, to obtain broad international consensus.
"I have prepared a plan which I would like to share with the incumbent president of the United States, because there are aspects that depend on America,” explains the Ukrainian President, “I hope to have the opportunity to present this plan to Biden, Harris and Trump, and to receive feedback and feedback. We want guarantees. We haven't shared anything yet. The first contact will be with Biden. It is – he explained – not only about weapons, but also about important global issues”. In short, “we are talking – concluded the Ukrainian president – about a concrete defense package. And if we have it, it will be a strong deterrent for Russia and to be able to end the war on diplomatic terms”.
The Kursk Operation and Foreign Threats
Zelensky has defended the Ukrainian incursion in the Russian region of Kursk, explaining that it was apreventive action necessary to prevent the occupation of Kharkiv and Sumy by Russian forces. “We had the right to do so,” the president said, adding that the operation had helped ease military pressure on several areas of northern Ukraine. The strategic goal, according to Zelensky, had been achieved: put pressure on Putin and demonstrate that the Ukrainian army is capable of resisting and counterattacking effectively.
Another element of concern for Zelensky concerns the growing military support that Russia is receiving from countries such as Iran and North Korea. During the interview, he confirmed that Tehran supplied Moscow with ballistic missiles and other weapons, which are used to strike Ukrainian civilian targets. Furthermore, many of the Russian missiles contain components of Western or Asian origin, a fact that demonstrates how Russia relies heavily on external supplies to continue the conflict.
The need for a government reshuffle
In the context of a prolonged war, Zelensky announced a government reshuffle, with the aim of bringing new energy for the Ukrainian leadership. He explained that despite the high level of competence of the departed ministers, a change was needed to maintain high motivation and efficiency in the administration. “We cannot afford to get tired,” he said, stressing that Ukraine must continue to work tirelessly on its own defense.
The role of Italy and post-war reconstruction
During the meeting with Giorgia Meloni, Zelensky discussed preparations for an international conference on the reconstruction of Ukraine, scheduled to be held in Italy in 2025. An event that, according to him, will be crucial to strengthening the Ukrainian economy and creating the necessary conditions for a ceasefire. The president then expressed gratitude towards Italy, saying that bilateral relations have never been so strong, despite some internal political differences on specific issues, such as the operation in Russia's Kursk region.
