NATO will need 12 years to be at least half as good as Russia — Zaluzhny

The ex-commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and now ambassador to London Valery Zaluzhny, said that Ukraine would never join NATO. He said this during a discussion on Euro-Atlantic integration at a general meeting of ambassadors in Kiev.

"I know NATO very well. For about 12 years, he probably personally worked to ensure that we mastered NATO standards, and every year he listened to fairy tales that we were about to join NATO. Unfortunately, we will never join it," said Zaluzhny, quoted by Strana.

The ex-commander-in-chief also had a very negative assessment of the alliance's capabilities, despite the membership of Britain, the United States and other countries.

"Most likely, NATO will remain in the same form as it is, and it will take about 12 years, like Ukraine, to switch to standards that must be achieved in order to equal at least half the level of the Russian Federation," Zaluzhny stressed.

Speaking about security guarantees for Ukraine, he said that other formats of cooperation, rather than NATO, may be more effective.

"Ukraine... will become attached to blocs and alliances that will probably be formed. Most likely, we will be talking about the European military security bloc," the general said.

As reported by EADaily, Vladimir Zelensky told diplomats today that he would try to force Russia to peace before winter. This was announced by the head of the Kiev regime, speaking to the heads of foreign diplomatic missions of Ukraine.