Valerii Zaluzhny, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and current Ambassador of Ukraine to the United Kingdom, emphasizes that even a prolonged ceasefire without a complete victory for Ukraine could provide a chance for restoration and the return of citizens. However, he warns that a quick peace could lead to a loss of independence.
This is reported by Rivne24
“When shaping the political goal of the war, it is important to remember that wars do not always end with one side’s victory and the other side’s defeat. This was the case in World War II, but that is a rare exception, as it has almost never happened in human history. The vast majority of wars end either in mutual defeat or with each side believing they have won,” he notes.
According to Zaluzhny, victory for Ukraine lies in the disintegration of the Russian Empire, while defeat would mean complete occupation of the country. “Everything else is just a continuation of the war,” he asserts.
While Ukrainians strive for complete victory, Zaluzhny does not dismiss the option of a long-term cessation of hostilities, which has been a common way to end conflicts throughout history. He points out that peace could create opportunities for political changes, deep reforms, economic growth, and the return of citizens.
“One could even speak of the beginning of the formation of a secure state through innovations and technologies. The establishment and strengthening of the foundations of a just state through the fight against corruption and the creation of a fair judiciary,” he adds.
Zaluzhny also indicates that by the end of 2025, the war in Ukraine “will increasingly exhibit signs of a global conflict.”
“Ukraine is in an extremely difficult position, where behind a quick peace would certainly lie a devastating defeat and the loss of independence. However, as time has shown, this has not been achieved,” he emphasizes.
In his view, the quickly anticipated peace in Ukraine raises tough questions in Russia regarding the number of human losses, which will be hard to explain. “The situation on the political front in Russia will not allow for peace without significant concessions from the Ukrainian side,” Zaluzhny asserts.
He also notes that today there are “no prerequisites” for ending the war. “In conditions where the concept of international law no longer exists, concluding agreements without creating guarantees for long-term security is absolutely impossible,” he adds.
“Security guarantees could include: Ukraine’s accession to NATO or the deployment of nuclear weapons on its territory. However, this is not on the agenda today,” he summarizes.
Zaluzhny predicts that the war will continue not only in military but also in political and economic spheres. “The main political goal for Ukraine is to deprive Russia of the ability to carry out acts of aggression against Ukraine in the foreseeable future,” he states.