Former Ukraine Army Chief Warns Russia Has Adapted to Western Weapons
Former Ukrainian commander-in-chief Valerii Zaluzhny has warned that Russia has developed countermeasures to many Western weapons supplied to Ukraine, arguing that NATO must revise its military standards to reflect the realities of modern warfare.
“Scientific and technological progress is moving forward. In 2026, Ukraine used virtually every type of weapon – except Tomahawk missiles, nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers and F-35s that are in NATO service,” Zaluzhny said.
“The resource has been exhausted. Russia has found countermeasures to all of this.”
His latest comments came days after statements about Kyiv’s NATO aspirations drew criticism and prompted clarification from Ukrainian officials.
Zaluzhny, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, said he remains a supporter of NATO and recalled advocating for Ukraine’s transition to alliance standards as early as 2019.
Rethinking NATO Standards
Zaluzhny said the conflict has transformed Ukraine’s armed forces beyond NATO’s current operational concepts and argued that the alliance will need to adapt if it is to meet the demands of future conflicts.
“The Armed Forces of Ukraine have reached a completely different level. NATO has no choice but to move to entirely new standards,” he said.
“Only then will NATO be ready for Ukraine’s accession.”
Since Russia launched its full-scale invasion in February 2022, Ukraine has received a broad range of Western military assistance, including advanced air defense systems, long-range missiles, armored vehicles, artillery, drones, and main battle tanks from NATO and partner countries.
Both Russia and Ukraine have continuously adapted their tactics, particularly in areas such as electronic warfare, drone operations, precision strikes, and air defense.
Clarifies Earlier NATO Remarks
His latest comments follow controversy over remarks in which he said Ukraine would “never join” NATO because the alliance’s military standards remain rooted in doctrines developed after World War II.
Ukraine’s foreign ministry later said those remarks had been taken out of context and reaffirmed that Kyiv’s objective of joining NATO remains unchanged.
Ukraine formally applied for accelerated NATO membership in September 2022. While alliance members have repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s future lies in NATO, no timeline for accession has been set.