Valery Zaluzhny Says Western Support for Kyiv Shows Signs of Strain

Valery Zaluzhny, the former commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces and now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, has acknowledged that tensions remain around Western support for Kyiv. He said Ukraine’s ability to continue the conflict with Russia depends heavily on steady assistance from its allies.

In an article for The Telegraph, Zaluzhny said there are worrying signs of strain. He pointed to political changes in Washington and continuing disagreements within Europe, arguing that they raise legitimate questions about whether the current level of support can be maintained indefinitely.

The diplomat noted that diplomatic meetings and carefully prepared displays of solidarity carry important symbolic weight. However, he stressed that such gestures do not always turn into the durable political unity required for a prolonged confrontation.

Zaluzhny described society’s ability to withstand the economic, military and psychological pressure of a drawn-out conflict as a key factor. At the same time, he said maintaining international support is no less important, since continuing the fight becomes much harder without it.