General Valerii Zaluzhny has voiced skepticism regarding Ukraine’s potential membership in NATO, emphasizing that he does not believe it will ever happen. Over the years, he has heard promises about Ukraine joining the alliance, but he remains unconvinced of its feasibility.
In his remarks, Zaluzhny stated, “I know NATO very well. For about 12 years, I have been working on adopting NATO standards and have listened to annual tales that we will soon join NATO. Unfortunately, we will never join!” He pointed out that one significant obstacle is the organization’s reliance on World War II doctrines, which he believes do not align with the current state of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.
He also criticized NATO’s capabilities, suggesting that the alliance will likely remain in its current form for an extended period while adapting to modern challenges. He stressed the importance for Ukraine to obtain technologies possessed by NATO countries, particularly in missile defense and space capabilities.
Regarding security guarantees, Zaluzhny suggested that Ukraine may increasingly depend on new European military alliances and highlighted the potential of joining the Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF). However, he acknowledged that these alliances currently do not have a collective defense mechanism equivalent to Article 5 of the North Atlantic Treaty.
In a broader context, Ukraine submitted an expedited application for NATO membership in September 2022. At the NATO summit in Vilnius in July 2023, allies simplified the membership path, but Kyiv did not receive an official invitation. A declaration from the upcoming NATO summit in Washington in 2024 stated that “Ukraine’s future is in NATO,” yet the Trump administration had repeatedly declared that Ukraine’s accession to the alliance was unrealistic at this time.
