Valery Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine's ambassador to Britain and former top military commander, said he sees no realistic prospect of Ukraine joining NATO because the country's armed forces do not meet required standards. He cited missing technologies such as anti-missile defence and space capabilities and noted that not all NATO members would welcome accession while the war with Russia continues. Zaluzhnyi was dismissed as commander in 2024 after disputes with President Zelenskiy and remains a prominent, well-regarded public figure.
Ex-Top Ukrainian Commander Zaluzhnyi Says Kyiv Has 'No Real Prospect' Of Joining NATO
FILE PHOTO: Ukrainian Ambassador to the United Kingdom Valerie Zaluzhnyi welcomes Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at an airport in an unknown location, as he arrives for the European Political Community meeting in Britain, July 18, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential Press Service/Handout via REUTERS/File Photo
Valery Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine's former top military commander who now serves as ambassador to Britain, told a gathering of Ukrainian envoys that he sees no realistic prospect of Ukraine joining NATO despite the goal being enshrined in the constitution.
Quoted by Evropeiska Pravda and reported by Reuters, Zaluzhnyi said Ukraine currently does not meet the military standards required for accession to the alliance and that the country's armed forces lack several technologies already fielded by NATO members.
"I know NATO really well. For about 12 years I personally worked on making sure we met NATO standards, and every year I heard tales about how we would join NATO any day now," he said. "Unfortunately, we will never actually join."
Zaluzhnyi argued that, at the present level of development of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, it is "impossible" to enter what he described as "an organisation guided by World War II doctrines." He specifically mentioned gaps in capabilities such as anti-missile defence and space-based systems.
Context and Political Background
Ukraine's constitution codifies membership of NATO and the European Union as strategic goals. However, Kyiv and international observers acknowledge that not all current NATO members would support immediate accession, particularly while Ukraine remains at war with Russia.
Zaluzhnyi was dismissed as Ukraine's top commander in 2024 after disagreements with President Volodymyr Zelenskiy over how to conduct the war with Russia. He has since been appointed ambassador to the United Kingdom. Opinion polls place his public trust roughly on par with Zelenskiy and with former Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who was sacked last month; Zaluzhnyi's successor as top commander was also dismissed last month.
Russia has categorically rejected any possibility of Ukrainian NATO membership. Zaluzhnyi's comments reflect both the technical and political challenges Kyiv faces on the path to alliance accession and underline the long-term nature of that objective.
Sources: Evropeiska Pravda; Reuters (reporting by Ron Popeski; editing by Stephen Coates).
Help us improve.
