Zaluzhny: NATO Countries Are Making A Mistake

• 24.07.2025, 17:41

Mere rearmament is not enough.

NATO countries avoid rethinking their military doctrines and simply re-equip their armies with more modern weapons, which, however, is not enough to be really ready for the next war. This opinion in an interview with lb.ua was expressed by the former commander-in-chief of the AFU, and now Ukraine's ambassador to the UK Valeriy Zaluzhny.

"NATO countries think that this rearmament will be a magic wand that will bail them out at any moment. And I say no. Because new weapons entail new tactics of use, new forms and methods of use, which entails new structures in which they are used, and as a consequence, the need for a new doctrine of use. As a consequence, the need for a new training system, new funding. And for any NATO country - this is about five years," Zaluzhny said.

At the same time, he noted that NATO now has an approved doctrine on application, development, development policy, etc., but it does not coincide at all with the new technologies that are now on the battlefield.

"Five years - this is if they join the process today. But I've been watching for a year and a half at least, as this "today" should come, but it hasn't come yet. ...Between the statements of political leaders and the consequences of any practical actions in the defense system, unfortunately, there is a big gap. Because their national defense is built on the possibilities of collective security and their participation in that collective security," Zaluzhny said.

According to him, Ukraine's experience of modern warfare and new powerful technologies is an additional burden for the country in the issue of relations with the Alliance countries.