Russia has significantly altered its military forces due to war pressures, causing concern among politicians and intelligence officials that it might attack a NATO country by decade’s end.
Zaluzhnyi’s unusual criticism highlights a shift in the alliance’s relationship with Ukraine. The nation has evolved from depending on European military aid in the early war years to becoming one of the continent’s most formidable and technologically advanced militaries, outpacing Western forces in the mass production of drones, missiles, and other critical systems.
“Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security,” stated NATO’s 32 leaders in a joint declaration at the alliance’s Ankara summit last month. In recent military exercises where NATO has involved Ukrainian troops, allied forces have frequently been surprised by Ukrainian tactics and drone usage.
The remarks are also significant given Zaluzhnyi’s widely rumored political aspirations. He was replaced as Ukraine’s top commander by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2024.
“Most likely, NATO will remain as it is, spending 12 years, like Ukraine, transitioning to the standards needed to achieve at least half the level of the Russian Federation,” said the retired general.
Zaluzhnyi’s comments also express ongoing Ukrainian frustration with the alliance for stalling its membership application despite officially proposing the possibility of future membership in 2023. The U.S. and other allies remain opposed.
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