Zaluzhnyi on Ukraine's main mistake: underfunding the army and uncertainty of goals

The Importance of Political Goals in War

According to ХВИЛЯ: Valerii Zaluzhnyi, the former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and current ambassador of Ukraine to Great Britain, published a column highlighting the importance of defining political goals in war and drawing attention to Ukraine's strategic mistakes. The main problems he identified were underfunding of the army and uncertainty of goals. In his article 'On the Political Goal of War for Ukraine,' prepared at the end of 2023 but not published, Zaluzhnyi emphasized the necessity of a clear political goal for achieving success in war.

Situation Analysis and Political Goals

According to data, as of August 2021, the Armed Forces of Ukraine numbered 250,000 people, significantly less than over a million servicemen in the Russian Federation. In 2021, less funding was allocated to the army than in the previous year, and the budget for 2022 increased by only 10% despite the escalating situation with the buildup of Russian troops. Zaluzhnyi notes that the main political goal for Ukraine is 'to deprive Russia of the ability to carry out acts of aggression against Ukraine in the foreseeable future.'

He also stressed that the number one target for Russia is Ukraine. Zaluzhnyi believes that victory in this war means the collapse of the Russian Empire, while defeat will lead to Ukraine's complete occupation through its disintegration.

“Everything else is just a continuation of the war” - Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

Zaluzhnyi also warns that peace, even in anticipation of the next war, without security guarantees and real financial programs, may lead to a new phase of conflict, already in the form of a civil war.

The negotiations in Geneva, which took place on November 23, also became an important stage in the context of the political goals of the war. Zaluzhnyi called for defining a clear strategy to avoid further mistakes and ensure effective protection of Ukraine's independence.

Valerii Zaluzhnyi's statements highlight the critical need to adapt Ukraine's military strategy in the context of current threats and challenges facing the country. Defining clear political goals and ensuring adequate funding for the army can be decisive factors in the fight for independence, especially in conditions where the situation at the front remains tense. Zaluzhnyi calls for activating strategic planning, which could be the key to successfully countering aggression from Russia.