Until now, all that Zelensky would say in public was that this clandestine plan paradoxically would not require negotiation with Putin, but also provides a way to strengthen Ukraine in order to "push Putin" to diplomatically end the war. Tone deaf in the extreme, several weeks ago Zelensky brazenly flew on a US Air Force C-17 transport plane into the key battleground state of Pennsylvania to visit a munitions plant before hectoring the United Nations General Assembly on this special plan. Election interference be damned!

Blessed with Zelensky's grand reveal of his vaunted five-point plan to the Ukrainian parliament on October 16, the tragic farce of the "Victory Plan" sharpens into focus.

Still shielding "three secret" addenda from the general public, Zelensky's top goal is as unsurprising as it is meretricious: an invitation for Ukraine to join NATO.

Zelensky hopes that NATO nations will grant Ukraine's application for admission, which it submitted over two years ago. Ukraine's Victory plan is little more than a Hail Mary. Why would NATO nations suddenly wish to jump headlong into the fray now, as Ukraine's already-dim prospects admittedly vanish, which cannot be papered over even by friendly commentators?

The patent absurdity of the Victory Plan does not stop there. Zelensky's other four points involve:

(1) unrestricted Western support for unrestricted warfare;

(2) "non-nuclear deterrence" to "safeguard the country against future" Russian "aggression";

(3) "economic growth and cooperation," which includes further Russian sanctions plus joint investment opportunities; and

(4) a "post-war security architecture," in which Ukraine's "large and experienced military force" can help secure Europe.

Zelensky seeks to unleash the Ukrainian military, hitherto shackled by arbitrary US restraints on long-range strikes into Russia. This invitation to nuclear war is bad enough, but he also seeks funds, arms, and intelligence from the West beyond the already-prodigious aid and comfort shuttled off these past two years. Additionally, this plank demands for Ukraine "additional supplies of long-range capabilities," asks for the West to take out Russian missiles and drones, and suggests further ground invasions of Russia to create "buffer zones." As Russia expands and lowers the bar for using nuclear weapons, Zelensky means to thrash about Russia like an elephant in a Matryoshka shop.