Ukraine will never join Nato, says former top commander
Valery Zaluzhny said Ukraine could not join an alliance that 'adheres to doctrines dating from the Second World War', given the current capabilities of its armed forces.
Former Ukrainian Army Chief Valery Zaluzhny, now a UK ambassador, has stated that Ukraine will "never" join NATO despite its intention to become a member. Zaluzhny, who was sacked by President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2024, expressed his views during a meeting of Kyiv's ambassadors. He claimed to have personally worked on mastering NATO standards for 12 years and said it was "unfortunate" that they would never join.
Zaluzhny argued that Ukraine's current military development level made it impossible for them to join the alliance, which he said follows doctrines from World War II. Despite Ukraine's advancements in military technology, particularly drone technology, Zaluzhny believes NATO is not equipped for 21st-century conflicts. He acknowledged the support NATO members have provided to Ukraine but emphasized that respect for the alliance should not prevent a critical assessment of its shortcomings.
Zaluzhny remains the most trusted public figure in Ukraine, with a 73% support rating in a June poll by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology.
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