Ex-Ukraine Commander Zaluzhnyi reaffirms pro-NATO stance, calls for doctrine overhaul

Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces, has asserted his long-standing support for Ukraine's integration into NATO, revealing that his advocacy for adopting NATO standards in 2019 earned him significant opposition.

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I have made so many enemies, you can't even imagine. I am for NATO.

"I have made so many enemies, you can't even imagine. I am for NATO," Zaluzhnyi stated, according to RBC-Ukraine. He believes that while Ukraine has utilized nearly all its available weaponry since the full-scale invasion began, and Russia has developed countermeasures for each, NATO's doctrine remains rooted in the post-World War II era.

Zaluzhnyi contends that Ukraine's military technology has progressed significantly due to the ongoing war and advancements in science and technology. "NATO is still based on a doctrine formed after World War II, and we are technologically ahead," he said. He stressed the necessity for the Alliance to adopt new standards and formulate a revised military doctrine to prepare for Ukraine's potential membership.

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NATO is still based on a doctrine formed after World War II, and we are technologically ahead.

"Only then will NATO be ready for Ukraine's membership," Zaluzhnyi explained. He also proposed the creation of a "completely new security bloc, possibly territorially linked to Europe." He noted the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) as a "quite promising organization."

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Only then will NATO be ready for Ukraine's membership.

Earlier, Zaluzhnyi had sharply criticized NATO, estimating it would take approximately 12 years for the Alliance to reach Russia's current military level. Ukraine's Ministry of Foreign Affairs commented on these statements, suggesting Zaluzhnyi's remarks were taken out of context.

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I have also said that we need a completely new security bloc, probably territorially linked to Europe. Completely new.