"Free world needs to wake up and think about how to protect its citizens and countries" – Ukraine's former top general and Ambassador to UK Zaluzhny
Photo: Telegram / Zaluzhny
Valery Zaluzhny, the previous Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian armed forces, addressed the Royal United Services Institute (RUSI) and emphasized the need for free and democratic nations to wake up and think about protecting their citizens and their countries. He also mentioned that Ukraine is willing to share its own experiences.
Zaluzhny published the speech text on Telegram.
Valery Zaluzhny referenced the words of the ancient Roman historian Cornelius Nepot, who famously said, "If you desire peace, be prepared for war." Zaluzhny emphasized that these words still hold true in modern democratic societies, even in the 21st century.
"Turning to the events of 2022-2024 of the decade-long war between Ukraine and Russia, we must honestly tell humanity what is happening and what humanity should be prepared for. Free and democratic nations and their governments need to wake up and think about how to protect their citizens and their countries," Zaluzhny said.
Photo: Telegram / Zaluzhny
He added that Ukraine is ready to share all its knowledge and experience with the free world. Among the most important things the war taught Ukrainians, the former Ukraine's armed forces commander-in-chief singled out a few.
"First of all, wars must be avoided! But if it does come, you need to be prepared for it," he emphasized.
Zaluzhny noted that readiness for war should be considered as a set of measures that covers not only purely military aspects but also all spheres of state activity.
He called the readiness of society based on honest and transparent communication between the government and people as the most complex and essential component.
"Society must agree to temporarily give up a range of freedoms for the sake of survival. Modern wars, unfortunately, are total. They require the efforts not only of the army, but also of society as a whole," Zaluzhny said.
According to him, political leaders have the ability and responsibility to rally society. To do this, comprehensive engagement is crucial.
Photo: Telegram / Zaluzhny
"Among such resources are the economics, finance, population, and allies. Such actions, of course, will affect the political processes in the state. Thus, the readiness for war will be determined not only by the readiness of the army to repel aggression but also by the readiness of society to confront the enemy," Zaluzhny added.
In addition, he noted that war should not be considered part of the internal political process but only as a maximum concentration of forces for survival.
"War is a science. Science with its own laws and rules that need to be known and studied. Using the war for their own purposes or trying to influence its course for their own interests is a crime that results in huge casualties," the Ukrainian ambassador to Great Britain emphasized .
For reference:
On February 8, the Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Valery Zaluzhny, who has led the army since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, resigned with the right to wear military uniforms. In his place, the commander of the Ground Forces of Ukraine's armed forces, Oleksandr Syrsky, was appointed.
The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, bestowed the Hero of Ukraine title upon Valery Zaluzhny, the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, and Kyrylo Budanov, the head of Ukraine's intelligence agency.
The head of state mentioned that Zaluzhny wanted to pursue a career in diplomacy.
In May, President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a decree dismissing the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces (AFU), Valery Zaluzhny, from military service and appointing him ambassador to Great Britain.
On July 11, the former Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's armed forces, Valery Zaluzhny, handed over his credentials and officially began to perform the duties of the Ambassador of Ukraine to Great Britain.
