Plan to Coerce the Kremlin: Zelenskyy Reveals Strategy for Ending the War and Bringing the Conflict to Russian Territory

Coercion Strategy: Kyiv's Plan of Action

Speaking at the Ukrainian Youth Forum, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy outlined the fundamental strategy for ending the full-scale war. According to him, the country's leadership operates on the premise that Russian leader Vladimir Putin will not voluntarily stop the aggression. Consequently, a detailed plan of action has been developed aimed at coercing the Kremlin into ceasing hostilities. Zelenskyy emphasized that this plan is the result of coordinated work with international partners and provides for a comprehensive set of pressure measures against the Russian authorities.

"We understand what we must do. This is a joint plan with our partners on how to exert pressure on him (Putin)," noted the Ukrainian leader. According to his statements, all necessary steps have been calculated, and the strategy is built on making the continuation of the war unacceptable for the Russian elite and society. The key element of this strategy is creating conditions where the political cost of the conflict for Moscow becomes higher than the potential benefit of its continuation.

Holding the Frontline as the Basis for Negotiating Position

The central element of Zelenskyy's plan remains military resilience. The President emphasized that the Armed Forces of Ukraine must hold the front, as it is the position on the battlefield that determines the possibilities of diplomacy. "This gives the President the ability to conduct a strong dialogue with the enemy," he explained. Zelenskyy pointed out the direct dependence between successes on the front and the quality of negotiating positions: if the situation on the battlefield is not strong enough, dialogue inevitably turns into excessive compromises that do not serve Ukraine's interests.

Thus, Kyiv's strategy is built on the principle of "strength through defense." Only holding territories and demonstrating the ability to deliver retaliatory strikes allow Ukraine to dictate terms or, at a minimum, not accept imposed terms. This confirms that the military component remains the foundation for achieving political goals.

Bringing the War Back to Russian Territory

One of the key tasks voiced by Zelenskyy is scaling up support from international partners, particularly in the field of air defense (PVO). The President called on allies to provide means that will allow Ukraine not only to defend itself but also to effectively deliver retaliatory strikes. "We need to bring the war back to Russian territory," he summarized.

Zelenskyy's logic is that when Russian society begins to feel the real consequences of the war—destruction of infrastructure, threats to citizens' lives—powerful public pressure will arise within the country against the authorities. According to the Ukrainian leader, this will become the decisive factor that will force the Kremlin to reconsider its policy. Thus, the strategy includes not only military but also psychological impact on Russian society.

Contradictory Data

There is a discrepancy in assessments of how effectively the strategy of "bringing the war back" to Russian territory can work. On the one hand, Zelenskyy cites a growing number of Russians calling for an end to the war, which is confirmed, according to him, by internal polls. On the other hand, Russian official sources and pro-Kremlin analysts deny the existence of significant public dissatisfaction, claiming that the population supports the authorities' actions. Moreover, experts note that scaling up strikes on Russian territory requires not only will but also a sufficient amount of precision weapons, the supply of which depends on political decisions by Western countries, which may be restricted.

Increased Mobilization and Countermeasures

Zelenskyy also warned that Russia plans to increase mobilization and recruit as many people as possible into the army. In response, Ukraine must increase its capabilities to strike the enemy's rear. The President reminded that Russia is increasingly using North Korean ballistics in attacks on Ukraine, which requires Kyiv to take even tougher countermeasures. In this context, Ukraine has submitted proposals to the US for further actions that should tighten pressure on Russia and bring the end of the war closer.