Ukraine's former army chief Zaluzhnyi warns against claims Russia has lost the war

Former Ukrainian top commander Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, writing in the British Telegraph, said that the notion that Russia has already lost the war is a dangerous misreading. He argued the conflict has become an attrition war where endurance and continued Western support, rather than isolated tactical victories, will decide the outcome. Zaluzhnyi noted that advances in drones, precision weapons and surveillance have made decisive breakthroughs difficult for both sides, turning battlefield gains into costly, meter‑by‑meter advances.

He stressed that Russia still retains the capacity to strike back with equal or greater force and that Ukraine lacks the means to liberate all occupied territories on its own. Zaluzhnyi also warned that waning political cohesion in Washington and Europe could jeopardise the level of aid needed for a prolonged fight. In addition, he offered criticism of NATO’s Cold‑War‑era posture and hinted at a possible presidential candidacy.

Overall, the former commander cautioned analysts and policymakers against underestimating the war’s long‑term demands and the strategic balance that remains unsettled.