Ukraine-Russia latest: Zelensky pushes for EU and Nato to back his ‘victory plan’ against Putin’s forces

Zelensky seeks to convince Western allies to back his plan as more than 160 clashes reported along front line of war

Zelensky signs co-operation agreement with Croatia

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is seeking to persuade EU officials and Nato members to back his “victory plan” to end Russia’s war as he attends two crucial meetings in Brussels.

Mr Zelensky will address a summit of EU leaders on Thursday before making his case to Nato defence ministers, at a meeting which marks the first time the Western military alliance has met since the Ukrainian president unveiled the five-point plan, which he hopes could bring an end to the war by the end of 2025.

In a test for Ukraine’s Western allies, an invitation to join Nato sits front-and-centre of Kyiv’s plan, which also calls for a non-nuclear deterrence mechanism with the power to destroy Russia’s military, Mr Zelensky told the members of Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday morning.

As Nato defence ministers discuss the plan with Mr Zelensky on Thursday, fierce fighting continued along the vast front line in Ukraine, with more than 160 clashes reported by Kyiv’s military over the past 24 hours.

Key Points

• Volodymyr Zelensky pushes for EU and Nato to back his ‘victory plan’
• Australia to send nearly 50 Abrams tanks to Ukraine
• In full: The five key points of Zelensky’s ‘Victory Plan’
• Ukrainian ‘Victory Plan’ requires unconditional invitation to Nato
• Kyiv denies Russia captured two villages

[16 October 2024 09:46 · Alex Croft]

In pictures: Heavy shelling in eastern town of Pokrovsk

An elderly woman walks past damaged as a result of shelling buildings, in Pokrovsk, the eastern Donetsk region (AFP via Getty Images)

Reaching Pokrovsk on the eastern frontline has been a key aim of Russia’s recent military assaults (REUTERS)

Russian forces are advancing slowly but steadily in the eastern Donetsk region (AFP via Getty Images)

[16 October 2024 09:24 · Alex Croft]

Large-scale power outages reported in southern Ukraine

Large-scale power outages have been reported in the southern city of Kherson, according to the chief of the city’s military administration.

“According to preliminary information, the entire city was cut off. The reasons are being determined,” Roman Mrochko wrote on Telegram on Wednesday morning.

Power outages were also reported in the neighbouring Mykolaiv region

Governor Vitalii Kim said: “Many people have lost electricity. We identified the source. There was no strike. We will fix it in a couple of hours if there are no further surprises.”

[16 October 2024 08:52 · Alex Croft]

US explains reason behind use of THAAD defence system in Israel, not Ukraine

The US will not use the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) missile battery in Ukraine, despite using it in Israel, because the situation is “different”.

Washington authorised the use of THAAD - an advanced surface-to-air interceptor - in Israel to boost its defence capabilities after Iran’s attack.

But Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh said the US would not deploy the same system in Romania or Poland to help protect Ukraine’s west, which comes under regular attack from Russian missiles.

"Different capabilities, different wars, different regions. The commitments also to Israel and Ukraine are different," Singh said according to The Kyiv Independent.

It comes after president Volodymyr Zelensky said NATO countries could help shoot down Russian missiles over Ukraine, but that they were “not yet ready” to do this.

Zelensky said on October 3: “What works in the skies of the Middle East and helps Israel’s defence can work just as well in the skies of our part of Europe – in Ukraine – helping to save lives.”