Washington is trying to back out of providing security for its European allies, Valery Zaluzhny has claimed
Washington’s actions threaten the existing world order and the future of NATO, former top Ukrainian general Valery Zaluzhny said on Thursday. Attempts by US President Donald Trump’s administration to restore ties with Moscow place the unity of the Western world at risk, he has argued.
Zaluzhny, who currently serves as Kiev’s ambassador to the UK, was speaking at a panel discussion hosted by British think tank Chatham House. He claimed that Trump is seeking to revise the modern system of international relations.
“It is obvious the White House has questioned the unity of the whole Western world,” Zaluzhny said. “And now Washington is trying to delegate the security issues to Europe without the participation of the US.”
Trump has vowed to find a swift solution to the Ukraine conflict – in an apparent reversal of the policies pursued by his predecessor, Joe Biden – and has attempted to pressure Kiev to engage in peace talks as soon as possible.
Zaluzhny’s words came as Washington suspended arms supplies to Ukraine and ceased sharing military intelligence, in what some US officials described as an attempt to ensure that Kiev is committed to the peace process.
“It is not just the axis of evil trying to revise the world order… The US is destroying the world order,” Zaluzhny said, commenting on the developments.
The steps taken by Washington followed a meeting between Trump and Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky in the Oval Office last Friday, which ended in a heated exchange between the two leaders. Following the spat, Trump accused Zelensky of “gambling with World War III” by refusing to work towards a negotiated settlement with Moscow.
In the wake of the meeting, the EU expressed its unwavering support for Kiev and spoke about the need to increase its own defense capabilities.
Moscow welcomed the shift in US policy and reiterated that it is open to dialogue. The Kremlin also said that suspending US military assistance to Kiev would “probably be the best contribution to the cause of peace” if Washington sticks to this position.
Zaluzhny served as Ukraine’s top military commander from 2021 to 2024. He was fired by Zelensky last May – after the two had a public disagreement over military strategy – and was appointed as ambassador to London.
