Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom and former Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, expressed skepticism about the practical value of deploying foreign military contingents to Ukraine, though he acknowledged such a move could carry strong political significance.
He said this in an interview with LB.ua, according to Ukrinform.
“What kind of contingent are we talking about — a force capable of intercepting 500 drones over Kyiv, or one arriving in red, fancy trousers? What’s the point? There probably isn’t one — such a contingent must have real capabilities to ensure peace in a country. And those capabilities are very, very limited,” Zaluzhnyi said.
He added that, from a practical standpoint, he remains skeptical about the deployment of foreign troops in Ukraine. Politically, however, he sees symbolic value: “It’s a good sign when a country declares the support it is providing and its readiness to send its troops if necessary.”
“But that’s only political support — it should be measured in different terms than shooting down drones over Kyiv,” the former top general said.
In May, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said that achieving a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine remains the goal for Kyiv and its partners. He stressed that discussions on deploying international forces were not currently taking place, as it was still unclear what kind of security guarantees might be needed in the future.
Photo: Valerii Zaluzhnyi / Facebook
Source: Zaluzhnyi on value of foreign troops in Ukraine: Their capabilities are very limited
