Russia has made deep changes to its forces under pressure from the war, and many politicians and intelligence officials worry it could be ready to attack a NATO country by the end of the decade.
Zaluzhnyi’s unusual rebuke underscores a growing change in the alliance’s relationship with Ukraine. The country has shifted from relying on European military support in the early years of the war to becoming one the continent’s most powerful and technologically advanced militaries — far ahead of Western forces in the mass production of drones, missiles and other key systems.
“Ukraine contributes to transatlantic security,” said NATO’s 32 leaders in a joint declaration at the alliance’s Ankara summit last month. In recent military exercises where NATO has invited Ukrainian troops to participate, allied forces have repeatedly been surprised by their tactics and drone use.
The comments are also notable given Zaluzhnyi’s widely rumored political ambitions. He was replaced as Ukraine’s top commander by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2024.
“Most likely, NATO will remain in the same form as it is, and will spend 12 years, like Ukraine, transitioning to the standards that need to be achieved in order to be at least half the level of the Russian Federation,” said the retired general.
Zaluzhnyi’s remarks also reflect an enduring Ukrainian frustration with the alliance for stalling its application to join despite officially floating the prospect of eventual membership in 2023. The U.S. and other allies remain opposed.