Not prepared at all: Zaluzhnyi explained why Europe won't withstand a war with Russia.

European countries, despite their strength, are currently not prepared for a prolonged war with Russia. They are certainly ready and capable of conducting short-term military operations. However, they would likely struggle to endure a war of attrition.

This was stated by Ukraine's ambassador to the United Kingdom, former commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, in an interview with "Ukrainska Pravda." Zaluzhny elaborated on why, in his opinion, European countries are not equipped to handle a prolonged conflict at this time.

"When it comes to short-term military actions, European countries are probably ready. But the crux of the matter is whether they are prepared for a war of 'exhaustion.' Let's just do the math. In October, Ukraine faced approximately 1,643 'Shaheds' targeting its energy infrastructure, along with around 200 missiles. The trend is likely to continue, leading to an increase in these numbers. Just this month, if we calculate the number of 'Shaheds' and missiles launched at civilian targets, it could reach up to three thousand. And the month isn't even over yet," he said.

Zaluzhny emphasized that the number of aerial targets is increasing, while the means to combat them among Europeans are limited and very costly. In just three months, the Russians could fully "deplete" the European air defense systems, not accounting for the numerous KABs, of which the enemy dropped more than 4,500 on the front line in September and October alone. Each KAB has a warhead weight of 500 kilograms, compared to the much-lauded Russian "Iskander," which weighs 480 kg.

"Does any European country, or the UK for that matter, have at least 5,000 missiles for the 'Patriot' systems to intercept guided bombs? I have my doubts. They are very expensive, and as a result, it is not feasible to have a large quantity because manufacturing them poses challenges. Therefore, in this military aspect, one could argue that they are likely not prepared," Zaluzhny noted.

The former commander also did not overlook Russian information and psychological operations. Ukrainians have become quite resilient to these tactics, while Europe has not. Moreover, in his view, there are nearly no states at present that could muster enough resources for prolonged large-scale military operations.

"I even doubt that China is ready for large-scale actions right now," he concluded.

Zaluzhny's Assessment of the War Situation

According to the former commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the ambassador to the United Kingdom, the current developments allow Moscow to rebuild its military forces, posing additional challenges for Ukrainian defense. Zaluzhny reminded that since 2023, Kyiv has not been receiving sufficient military assistance from the West. This is precisely why the counteroffensive has not yielded "significant successes in defeating Russia."

It is worth recalling that at the onset of the full-scale invasion, the commander was concerned that Ukraine's actual defense plan could fall into Russian hands. Therefore, he kept it hidden from American General Mark Milley.

In November, Zaluzhny delivered an emotional speech at one of the secret training bases in East Anglia, where Ukrainian soldiers are being trained. He addressed the troops and urged them to kill the enemy without hesitation and not to fear death. Furthermore, Zaluzhny stated that they must be prepared for the harshest conditions of war.