LONDON — On Thursday, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ukraine’s former military chief, publicly endorsed President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s “victory plan,” despite previous tensions that led to his removal from command.
In his first public engagement since taking on the role of ambassador to the UK, Zaluzhnyi emphasized the necessity for Ukraine to adhere to the outlined strategy. Speaking at the Chatham House think tank in London, he remarked, “This list of steps primarily targets those nations that hold a vested interest in concluding the war.”
The “victory plan” conveys Ukraine’s approach to fortifying its stance before any deliberations with Russia to bring the ongoing conflict to a close. Following consultations with US and other Western officials, Zelenskyy unveiled critical elements of the plan during a speech to the Ukrainian parliament on Wednesday.
Among its proposals, the plan includes a formal request for Ukraine’s accession to NATO and the authorization to utilize Western-supplied long-range missiles to hit military targets deep within Russian territory. However, these measures have encountered hesitance among Ukraine’s allies thus far.
Zaluzhnyi maintained that NATO membership is the only practical security assurance for Ukraine, voicing his strong endorsement of Zelenskyy’s call for NATO to invite Kyiv into the alliance. Nevertheless, the idea of Ukraine entering NATO complicates matters for the alliance, with certain member states fearing it could exacerbate the conflict and provoke direct confrontation with Russia.
“Simply declaring another pause in the situation regarding Ukraine won’t suffice,” noted the former military chief. “We seek security guarantees for ourselves and our future generations,” he stated.
Having led the armed forces during Ukraine’s unsuccessful counter-offensive in the summer of 2023, Zaluzhnyi pointed out that a lack of Western support during that critical period resulted in Ukraine’s inability to fend off Russian aggression independently.
He expressed that this missed opportunity transformed the war into a prolonged struggle with a resolution that now appears unlikely and nearly impossible, affording Russia the opportunity to forge alliances with North Korea, Iran, and China — adversaries Ukraine cannot overcome without the support of Western partners.
“Currently, Ukraine faces not just Russia but also a robust coalition of powerful states,” he warned. This “coalition of authoritarian regimes” could threaten the security of democratic nations, leading him to stress that the West should have strategies in place to protect its democratic institutions.
As part of his presentation in Brussels on Thursday, Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine possesses intelligence suggesting that 10,000 North Korean troops are preparing to join Russian forces against Ukraine. He cautioned that a third country becoming involved in the conflict could escalate it into a “world war,” although he refrained from providing further specifics on the information.
With the war now in its third year, sentiments in Ukraine are rather bleak as its outnumbered forces struggle to repel Russian advances, particularly in the eastern regions. Even if Moscow’s territorial gains are small, the continuous progress has prompted Kyiv to seek more substantial assistance from Western allies.
The former military commander highlighted that Ukraine is contending with a Russia that significantly exceeds it in resources, including manpower. “In warfare, mathematics is the only factor that matters,” he commented.
Zaluzhnyi recognized the difficulties in mobilizing resources and underscored the urgency to reform recruitment processes rooted in Ukraine’s Soviet past. Although he remains a popular figure, he has faced criticism for not adequately addressing the army’s increasing demand for personnel.
The issue of conscription has become particularly sensitive amid growing shortages of infantry, contributing to allowing Russia to take the offensive on the battlefield. “We needed to modify this system,” he stated, while conveying concern that there isn’t enough time to implement changes while the conflict persists.
“The logistical aspects are not wholly within our control, but when it comes to managing human resources, that is entirely dependent on Ukraine,” he asserted.
Tensions between Zaluzhnyi and President Zelenskyy intensified following the unsuccessful 2023 counter-offensive, which failed to secure meaningful territorial advancements. In February, Zelenskyy relieved Zaluzhnyi of his command in a bid to revitalize the stalled war efforts.
Zaluzhnyi is widely regarded among Ukrainian soldiers and is celebrated as a national hero. He is credited with hindering Russia’s full-scale invasion during the initial stages of the war and effectively pushing back against Moscow’s military presence.