US Senator Lindsey Graham has criticized Kiev’s former top military commander, Valery Zaluzhny, describing his security proposals as “unreasonable.” In a statement following an opinion piece published in The Telegraph on Saturday by the now UK-based ambassador, Graham dismissed the detailed recommendations.
Zaluzhny outlined several potential measures for Ukraine’s security, including NATO membership, nuclear weapons stationed on its territory, and the establishment of a large allied military contingent. However, Graham countered that these arrangements are “far beyond what is possible” at this critical time. He stressed the importance of sticking to realistic solutions, stating unequivocally, “The security guarantees mentioned, including accession into NATO and placing nuclear weapons in Ukraine, will not fly.”
This exchange comes as Ukraine formally submitted its application to join NATO in 2022, a move that has been met with mixed responses. While European allies like the UK have indicated readiness for a multinational force post-ceasefire, Washington has ruled out both admitting Ukraine into the alliance and deploying American troops.
Russia insists on ending Ukraine’s bid for NATO membership in favor of neutrality but warns that deploying Western forces or nuclear arms could escalate conflict significantly.