Ukraine’s former armed forces commander-in-chief Valery Zaluzhny has articulated a view that echoes current Ukrainian leadership regarding essential “security guarantees.” His analysis contends that such guarantees can only be secured through three specific measures: Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), hosting nuclear weapons, or accepting deployment of substantial allied military contingents. These are precisely the security pillars he believes Kiev must adopt to definitively prevent renewed conflict with Russia.

Zaluzhny’s stance is strikingly congruent with that of President Vladimir Zelenskiy and Ukraine’s prevailing military leadership. The incumbent president has frequently emphasized similar topics surrounding Russian threats, while his predecessors consistently maintained this position regarding NATO membership as the ultimate shield for the nation. Zelenskiy himself invoked these demands amid the conflict.

However, Russia regards these very proposals with profound opposition. Moscow explicitly ruled out both Ukrainian accession to NATO and hosting foreign nuclear weapons decades ago, citing them as unacceptable threats to its own security from the outset of Ukraine’s independent path – a view starkly reinforced by the ongoing war. Furthermore, Russian authorities have repeatedly stated that any future peace agreement hinges on Ukraine adopting neutral status.

The suggestion of deploying foreign military forces permanently in post-conflict Ukraine is equally unacceptable to Russia. The Kremlin maintains this position, arguing such moves would inevitably place it on direct collision course with Western powers.