Ukraine’s former top commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi says he supports NATO, but Russia has found a counter to nearly all its weapons

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom and former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, said he considers himself a supporter of NATO but believes the alliance needs to change. He made the remarks to journalists in Kyiv who had asked him to explain his earlier statement that Ukraine would be unable to join NATO.

meduza.io ·8d ago

Ukraine’s former top commander Valerii Zaluzhnyi says he supports NATO, but Russia has found a counter to nearly all its weapons

Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former top military commander and ambassador to the United Kingdom, has stated his support for NATO while acknowledging that the alliance may need to adapt. Zaluzhnyi explained that Ukraine has already developed advanced weapons, with the exception of advanced cruise missiles, nuclear capabilities, aircraft carriers, and F-35 fighter jets.

He believes Russia has found ways to counter Ukraine's current arsenal, which has led him to question NATO's ability to accommodate Ukraine's military capabilities. Zaluzhnyi emphasized that Ukraine's military has reached a new level since the war began, necessitating a shift in NATO's standards. He suggested that NATO may need to adopt a different approach, potentially with a new territorial anchor in Europe.

Zaluzhnyi is also reportedly considering a presidential run in Ukraine, with Volodymyr Zelensky meeting with him in the summer of 2026 to discuss the possibility.

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