Zelenskiy Says ‘Victory Plan’ Could Push Russia to End War Diplomatically

 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, September 6, 2024. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, September 6, 2024. (Reuters)
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Zelenskiy Says ‘Victory Plan’ Could Push Russia to End War Diplomatically

 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, September 6, 2024. (Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attends a meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group at the Ramstein Air Base in Germany, September 6, 2024. (Reuters)

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Wednesday a "victory plan" he wants to present to US President Joe Biden this month would strengthen Kyiv and have a "psychological" impact that could push Russia to end its war diplomatically.

Speaking at Kyiv's annual Crimean Platform event, Zelenskiy said it was important that Ukraine presented the plan to its allies before a second international summit on peace that he wants to hold later this year.

"If partners support it (the plan), it will make it easier for Ukraine to force Russia to end the war," he said.

"What is this plan for? It is a serious strengthening of Ukraine and, in my opinion, it will have both psychological and political... influence on Russia's decision to end this war."

Zelenskiy first spoke of the plan last month, saying he wanted to discuss it with Biden and his two potential successors after the US presidential election in November.

Zelenskiy is expected to travel to the United Nations General Assembly later this month.

It comes at a critical juncture in the war, with Russian troops continuing to inch forward in eastern Ukraine despite Kyiv's forces launching a surprise incursion last month into Russia's Kursk region.

Ukraine has been pushing for a follow-up summit to advance its vision of peace. The first summit, held in Switzerland in June, pointedly excluded Russia, while attracting scores of delegations.

Kyiv has said it supports Russia attending the follow-up one as many countries in the Global South would like to see both sides in the war attend. Moscow has said it won't negotiate with Kyiv as long as Ukrainian forces are on its territory.



Four Killed in Helicopter Crash at Turkish Hospital

A US AH-64 Apache helicopter. Reuters file photo
A US AH-64 Apache helicopter. Reuters file photo
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Four Killed in Helicopter Crash at Turkish Hospital

A US AH-64 Apache helicopter. Reuters file photo
A US AH-64 Apache helicopter. Reuters file photo

Four people were killed in southwest Türkiye on Sunday when an ambulance helicopter collided with a hospital building and crashed into the ground.
The helicopter was taking off from the Mugla Training and Research Hospital, carrying two pilots, a doctor and another medical worker, the health ministry said in a statement.
Mugla's regional governor, Idris Akbiyik, told reporters the helicopter first hit the fourth floor of the hospital building before crashing into the ground. No one inside the building or on the ground was hurt. The cause of the accident, which took place during heavy fog, was being investigated.
Footage from the site showed debris from the crash scattered around the area outside the hospital building, with several ambulances and emergency teams at the scene.