Former Ukrainian army chief says country will never join NATO
Former army chief Valery Zaluzhny said Ukraine will never join NATO, as cross-border strikes between Russian and Ukrainian forces leave 14 dead.
Former Ukrainian military commander Valery Zaluzhny stated that Ukraine will never join NATO, citing political resistance from key members including the United States. Speaking to Ukrainian diplomats, Zaluzhny asserted that Ukraine's forces have effectively become "more modern than NATO" through extensive combat experience.
Meanwhile, recent cross-border strikes between Russian and Ukrainian forces resulted in 14 reported deaths. Ukrainian attacks on occupied Crimea damaged essential infrastructure, triggering power outages and water shortages. Krasnodar Governor Veniamin Kondratyev called the actions a deliberate assault on civilians, whereas reports indicate growing resident frustration over local emergency responses.
Separately, U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that active discussions are currently taking place with Iran regarding regional conflicts.
Sources: Le Figaro, Le Monde, Libération, RTBF Info.
How outlets assessed this
- Aug 4, 2026, 12:00 PM UTC
- Le Figaro Critical Highlighted Russian official statements accusing Kyiv of deliberately targeting civilian areas without military objectives.
- Libération Skeptical Focused on civilian hardship in Crimea and local criticism of Russian authorities' failure to manage infrastructure disruptions.
Sources
- Le Figaro — Guerre en Ukraine : 14 morts dans des échanges de frappes entre Kiev et Moscou
- Le Monde — EN DIRECT, guerre au Moyen-Orient : Donald Trump affirme que des discussions ont lieu « en ce moment même » avec l’Iran
- Libération — La Crimée face aux frappes ukrainiennes : «Je ne peux même pas préparer la bouillie de mon bébé ni faire chauffer son bain»
- RTBF Info — "Plus moderne que l'Otan" : pourquoi l'ancien chef de l'armée ukrainienne estime que Kiev n'y adhérera jamais
Earlier coverage
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- Oct 15, 2026, 08:00 PM UTCFormer Ukrainian defense minister urges preparations for post-war elections
- Oct 15, 2026, 05:30 PM UTCFormer Ukrainian defense minister urges preparations for post-war elections