Ukraine’s ex-army chief Valery Zaluzhny has said the country, which has been fighting a Russian invasion since 2022, will “never” join NATO, despite Kyiv’s stated intention to become a member of the U.S.-led military alliance.
Zaluzhny, a popular former top commander whom Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sacked two years ago, delivered the comments at a meeting of Kyiv’s ambassadors on Monday.
“I know NATO very well. For roughly 12 years I’ve personally worked on mastering NATO standards, and every year I’ve listened to the same fairytale that we’re about to join. Unfortunately, we never will,” Zaluzhny, who is currently Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, said.
He said that “given the current level of development of the Ukrainian Armed Forces” it was impossible for Ukraine to join the alliance that, according to Zaluzhny, “adheres to doctrines dating from the Second World War.”
Ukraine prides itself on its military-industrial progress, particularly in drone technology, which it has extensively developed since Russia invaded four and a half years ago. Zaluzhny questioned whether NATO is “equipped for the conflicts of the 21st century” last month in British media.
“Ukraine has every reason to appreciate the support NATO members have provided, and continues to provide. But respect for the alliance should not prevent an honest assessment of its shortcomings,” he wrote, admitting that Ukraine still needs strong support from its allies in its war with Russia.
Zaluzhny’s remarks underscore growing debate over whether NATO is adapting quickly enough to the lessons emerging from Ukraine. They also highlight a growing expectation in Ukraine and other frontline states that long-term security may increasingly depend on national military capabilities alongside, rather than sole through, alliance guarantees.
