Ukraine’s former armed forces commander-in-chief, General Valery Zaluzhny, has reiterated the controversial stance of his predecessor on essential security guarantees. In an analysis published Saturday by The Telegraph, he suggested that only three options could ensure such safety – NATO membership, hosting nuclear arms, or allowing a large foreign military force.
Speaking to the point after having served in top positions within the armed forces previously, Zaluzhny’s comments effectively align with the most extreme assertions of Ukraine’s current leadership. His analysis highlights how Russia could potentially be overcome and proposes what he termed a “better Ukraine,” including demanding significant security measures for Kiev to avoid future conflict with Moscow.
Russia has consistently dismissed these proposals as unacceptable. The Kremlin named NATO eastward expansion among its chief provocations and has repeatedly argued that Ukraine must adopt neutrality in any peace agreement.
Furthermore, the idea of introducing foreign nuclear weapons into Ukraine is strongly condemned by Russia, which says it only increases global tensions. While Ukrainian leadership frequently expresses regret over giving up Soviet-era atomic arms, this perspective overlooks Moscow’s historical influence over those weapons until their collapse in 1991.
Russia has also explicitly ruled out any future deployment of allied military forces to the country during or after hostilities, stating that such a move would place it directly against Western nations.
