As the full-scale war enters its fourth year, Ukraine has unveiled a three-step strategy aimed at intensifying military and economic pressure on Russia, arguing that stronger battlefield leverage is essential to secure peace.

The plan was presented by Ukraine’s Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who described it as a parallel track to diplomacy — combining measurable military targets with deeper coordination among international partners.

Closing the Skies

The first priority focuses on air defence and civilian protection.

Ukraine aims to:

Detect all aerial threats in real time
Intercept at least 95% of incoming missiles and drones
Expand interceptor capacity
Strengthen multi-layer air defence systems

A key concern remains Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia to target infrastructure. Kyiv says reliable city-level protection is critical for national resilience and economic stability.

Halting the Advance — On Land, Sea & Cyberspace

The second pillar seeks to stop Russian forces across all domains:

Land combat
Maritime operations
Cyber warfare

Fedorov stated that Russian advances come at heavy cost, citing high casualty rates in the Donetsk region. Ukraine aims to push attrition levels to a point where further Russian territorial gains become unsustainable.

The ministry also plans:

Procurement reforms
Structural military reorganization (“hull reform”)
Data-driven training and command systems

Technology integration and battlefield analytics are expected to play a larger role in operational decisions.

Choking Russia’s War Funding

The third goal targets Russia’s financial backbone, particularly oil revenues.

Ukraine argues that Moscow funds its:

Missile and drone production
Soldier contracts
Military-industrial expansion
State propaganda

through global crude exports, including shipments via a so-called “shadow fleet.”

Kyiv is pushing for:

Stronger international sanctions
Coordinated maritime enforcement
Expanded partner cooperation
Measures aimed at deepening Russia’s budget deficit

The strategy also includes efforts in the “cognitive domain” — countering propaganda and information warfare.

Technology & Partnerships

Ukraine emphasized maintaining a technological edge through digital battlefield systems such as DELTA’s ePoints system, which converts real-time data into faster targeting and strike decisions.

Fedorov said international partnerships remain central to achieving strategic pressure while pursuing diplomatic pathways.

Key Entities

Ukraine – Eastern European Nation
Russia – Eurasian Nation
Mykhailo Fedorov – Ukrainian Defence Minister
Donetsk – Eastern Ukrainian Region

Final Verdict

Ukraine’s three-step plan signals a strategy of escalation for leverage — seeking to strengthen air defence, intensify battlefield resistance, and constrict Russia’s financial capacity to wage war.

Whether this approach accelerates diplomatic resolution or deepens confrontation will depend on sustained Western support, Russia’s economic resilience, and developments on the ground.