President Volodymyr Zelensky in Brussels defends his "victory plan" for Ukraine to both European Union leaders and NATO defence ministers, with the outlook on the battlefield bleak in Kyiv's battle to repel the Russian invasion.

More than two and a half years into the war, Kyiv has been reported to be losing new territory almost daily in its eastern Donbas region and under mounting pressure to forge an exit strategy, which it says must start with ramped-up Western support.

Zelensky said in a video posted as he made the trip, that he would present the victory plan, which would be his tool for forcing Russia to peace, stressing that European leaders will hear how it needs to strengthen its position. 

The Ukrainian president was at the EU summit where he addressed the media, with a joint press conference with NATO chief Mark Rutte, wrapping the first of two days of talks between the Alliance's 32 member states.

While calling it a strong signal, the NATO secretary-general cautioned that he was not endorsing Zelensky's plan, which calls first and foremost for an immediate invitation to join the US-led alliance, a plea widely seen as unrealistic.

The United States position is unlikely to shift whether Donald Trump or Kamala Harris wins the White House on November 5, as though there are fears a second Trump term could upend the support Ukraine receives from NATO's biggest power.