The former head of Ukraine’s army accuses the United States of “destroying” world order

The US is “destroying” the world order, according to Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, the former head of Ukraine’s army, amid concerns over military assistance.

Ukraine’s current ambassador to Britain and former head of the armed forces, Valeriy Zaluzhnyi, has said that the US is “destroying” the world order. Following a contentious disagreement with President Donald Trump, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is attempting to restore frayed relations with Washington.

Zaluzhnyi spoke Thursday at the Chatham House think tank in London, where he denounced US activities that have shook world peace.

“The White House has clearly questioned the unity of the entire Western world,” he stated. “We can see that the US is ultimately upending the global order, not just the axis of evil and Russia attempting to change it.”

His remarks come after Trump decided to halt military assistance and intelligence exchanges with Kyiv while promoting peace negotiations with Russia without providing Ukraine with security assurances.

Notwithstanding these difficulties, Zaluzhnyi underlined that Ukraine has remained independent despite “animus and threats” from allies.

In a pledge to boost defense spending in response to Russia’s continued aggressiveness, European leaders reaffirmed their support for Ukraine on Thursday. For Kyiv, however, US support—in the form of financial assistance, weapons, and intelligence—has been essential.

Ukraine must obtain solid security guarantees and refrain from using them as a negotiating chip, Zaluzhnyi emphasized.

Zaluzhnyi is still very well-liked in Ukraine, where he oversaw the country’s defense for the first two years of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Despite not announcing his desire to run, he is widely seen as a possible opponent of Zelenskiy in next elections.

Since Russia began a full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, martial law has been in effect, putting an end to the country’s elections.

Last year, following tactical defeats, Zelenskiy took over as army chief from Zaluzhnyi. Russian forces currently hold around 20% of Ukraine and are gradually advancing farther east.