Valeriy Zaluzhny, the Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, has commented on his controversial statements regarding the North Atlantic Alliance. In a conversation with journalists, he attempted to clarify the context of his words, which were previously interpreted as a rejection of joining NATO.
Personal Position and Political Reality
Zaluzhny emphasized that his personal views on the alliance have not changed. He recalled that back in 2019, he was a staunch advocate for transitioning the Armed Forces of Ukraine to NATO standards, for which he faced severe criticism.
"I have made so many enemies that you cannot even imagine. I am pro-NATO," declared the former Commander-in-Chief.
However, in his opinion, there is a significant gap between personal support and the current political reality. Zaluzhny pointed out that, from a political standpoint, the Alliance faces many questions, especially against the backdrop of the ongoing conflict.
Technological Gap and Outdated Doctrine
The Ambassador's key argument is based on the technological superiority of the Ukrainian army over Alliance standards. Zaluzhny noted that since the beginning of the war, Ukraine has deployed almost all types of weaponry, while Russia has managed to develop countermeasures against them.
"NATO is stuck in the doctrine of the end of World War II, while we are technologically ahead," believes Zaluzhny. According to him, scientific and technological progress and combat experience have taken Ukrainian troops to a fundamentally different level, which is not described by the current standards of the alliance.
Call to Create a New Structure
The former Commander-in-Chief stated that for Ukraine's actual accession, the Alliance must completely revise its doctrine and switch to new standards. Otherwise, integration is impossible.
Zaluzhny proposed a radical solution: the creation of an absolutely new military bloc, most likely with a territorial link to Europe. As an example of a prospective organization, he cited the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF).
Recall that earlier, Zaluzhny stated that Ukraine would never become a member of NATO, and also estimated the time required for the Alliance's modernization to reach the Russian level at 12 years. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine called these words taken out of context.
