Zaluzhnyi warns Russia counters NATO weapons, calls for alliance overhaul

Former Ukrainian commander‑in‑chief Valerii Zaluzhnyi, now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, told reporters in Kyiv that Russia has developed countermeasures to almost every NATO weapon supplied to Ukraine. He said Ukraine has employed virtually all NATO systems – from Stinger and Javelin missiles to HIMARS, Abrams tanks and F‑16 fighters – except for Tomahawk missiles, nuclear weapons, aircraft carriers and F‑35 jets. Zaluzhnyi argued that the war has exposed the alliance’s outdated World‑War‑II‑era doctrines and urged NATO to adopt entirely new standards before it can accommodate Ukraine’s accession. While reaffirming his support for NATO membership, he also suggested creating a new European‑centered security bloc to meet modern warfare demands. The remarks come as Zaluzhnyi is mentioned as a potential presidential candidate in Ukraine’s upcoming elections.