Ukraine Warns “Forced Peace” Equals Defeat, calls for Robust Western Security Guarantees
Valery Zaluzhny, Ukraine’s ambassador to London and former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, has cautioned that a rushed peace agreement imposed on Ukraine would represent a “crushing defeat” and jeopardize the nation’s independence. In a recent interview with the British Telegraph (published November 29, 2025), Zaluzhny outlined the complex challenges facing Ukraine, both on the battlefield and within its own political landscape.
Zaluzhny emphasized that the current situation presents no easy solutions, extending beyond external diplomatic pressures and potential peace negotiations. He also highlighted internal Ukrainian issues,including political disputes and declining public trust in leadership,as contributing factors.
He stressed that any potential peace must not be viewed as a final resolution,but rather as an prospect for fundamental reform. “Peace can be an opportunity for renewal – not for sleep,” Zaluzhny stated, advocating for continued efforts to combat corruption and prepare for potential future aggression.
The former commander-in-chief warned that despite a relatively stable front line,Russia continues to pursue its overarching goal of dominating Ukrainian politics and stripping the country of its sovereignty. He referenced the work of russian military theorist Alexander Svechin, who identified two paths to political victory: a swift military strike or a prolonged war of attrition. Following the failure of its initial 2022 offensive, Zaluzhny asserts Russia has shifted decisively to the latter strategy, evidenced by a substantial increase in its military budget, a transition to a war economy, pressure on European energy supplies, and intensified hybrid warfare tactics. He contends that Russia currently holds a notable advantage in this protracted conflict, despite limited territorial gains.
A key obstacle,according to Zaluzhny,is the lack of a unified strategy among Western allies.He specifically cited the fluctuating positions of current US President Donald Trump and the ongoing difficulty in establishing a cohesive security framework for Ukraine within Europe. This inconsistency, he argues, creates a vacuum that Russia is actively exploiting. He warned that without a clear Western consensus, the conflict risks escalating beyond Ukraine’s borders, perhaps engulfing the entire eastern continent.“Without clearly defined security rules for Europe, today’s war risks turning into a struggle for control over the entire east of the continent,” Zaluzhny told The Telegraph.
zaluzhny acknowledged that a peace agreement involving Kyiv, moscow, and Washington would not, in itself, guarantee an end to the threat posed by Russia, as he believes Russia’s fundamental political objectives would remain unchanged. He therefore advocated for concrete security measures to deter future aggression.
He identified three potential safeguards:
* Ukraine’s accession to NATO.
* The placement of nuclear weapons on Ukrainian territory.
* The deployment of a substantial allied military contingent to deter Russian forces.
However, Zaluzhny noted that these options are currently receiving limited consideration. he concluded that until the West commits to a clear and long-term strategy, the conflict will likely continue to be prolonged.
