"They will want to return": Zelenskyy outlines strategy to permanently deter Russian aggression
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has presented a "security shield" strategy aimed at making a renewed Russian invasion impossible.
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Protecting Ukraine from future agression: Zelenskyy’s proposals / © Associated Press
Only foreign military bases on Ukrainian soil and a radical air defense overhaul can guarantee lasting peace and prevent a Russian rematch, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told journalists, according to TSN.ua.
The president said that the Kremlin is unlikely to abandon its goal of conquering Ukraine. To counter this, he proposed a defense strategy built on three "pillars":
A clear protocol for the West’s response to new Russian aggression
"First, it is vital for Ukraine to understand exactly what the partners' response will be — and how fast it will trigger — should aggression from the Russians recur. We have agreed that our side will propose a vision, and partners will respond to that draft. It is crucial to leave no room for weak points or errors," the head of state said.
Factor two: funding for the Ukrainian military
Factor three: Middle East-style air defense
"We want to expand our arsenal with the air defense systems we currently see performing effectively in the Middle East and the Gulf—systems we previously lacked. If we are talking about robust security guarantees, it means we need these systems in sufficient quantities," the president noted.
Zelenskyy views the deployment of allied contingents on Ukrainian soil as the most powerful deterrent.
"I don't believe the Russians will ever abandon their desire to return. But I believe that if an American military base—or a joint U.S.-European base—is established in Ukraine, our risks will be far lower," Zelenskyy concluded.