Zaluzhny: “NATO is too outdated for Ukraine”

NATO's dependence on "World War II doctrines" and slow adaptation to new forms of warfare are the reasons why Ukraine will probably never become a member of the Alliance, said Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom and former Supreme Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Valery Zaluzhny.

"For 12 years, I personally worked on adopting NATO standards and every year I heard stories about how we would soon become a member of NATO. Unfortunately, that will never happen," Zaluzhny said in an address to Ukrainian ambassadors in Kiev, Ukrainian media reported.

Although, as he stated, Ukraine needs technology that NATO countries still have, including ballistic missile defense systems, Zaluzhny believes that it is "impossible to join an organization that still relies on World War II doctrines, despite the level of development that the Ukrainian armed forces have reached."

Russia, under the pressure of war, has implemented profound changes to its armed forces, and many politicians and intelligence officials fear that by the end of this decade it could be ready to attack a NATO member.

Valery Zaluzhny's unusually harsh criticism points to a growing shift in relations between Ukraine and the Alliance. The country, which in the early years of the war was largely dependent on European military aid, is now considered one of the most militarily powerful and technologically advanced powers on the continent, far ahead of Western armies in the mass production of drones, missiles and other key systems.

"Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security," said a joint declaration by 32 NATO leaders adopted at the Alliance's summit in Ankara last month.

During recent military exercises, in which Ukrainian soldiers also participated, members of the allied forces were repeatedly surprised by their tactics and the way they used drones.

Zaluzhny's statements have also attracted additional attention due to his alleged political ambitions. President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed him from his post as commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian army in 2024.

"Most likely, NATO will remain organized in the same way as it is now and will spend 12 years, just like Ukraine, trying to reach the standards needed to be at least half as strong as the Russian Federation," the retired general said.

His statements also reflect Ukraine's long-standing dissatisfaction with the postponement of its accession to the Alliance, despite NATO officially opening up the possibility of future membership in 2023. The United States and some allies continue to oppose such a move.

That is why, according to Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine will turn to connecting with “blocs and alliances that are yet to be formed.” As an example, he cited the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF), a group of ten countries led by Great Britain, mainly consisting of Nordic and Baltic countries. The alliance was established in 2014 as a complement to NATO.

"We will most likely talk about a European military security bloc," Zaluzhny added.