Ukraine Cannot Restore 1991 Borders, Says Zaluzhnyi
Valery Zaluzhnyi, ex-military chief and current UK ambassador, says Ukraine should abandon hopes of restoring pre-2022 or 1991 borders.
Ukraine should relinquish aspirations of returning to its 1991 post-Soviet borders or even reclaiming all territory held before Russia's 2022 invasion, former top commander Valery Zaluzhnyi said Thursday at a Kyiv forum. Now Ukraine’s ambassador to the United Kingdom, Zaluzhnyi stated, “I hope that there are not people in this room who still hope for some kind of miracle... that will bring peace to Ukraine, the borders of 1991 or 2022 and that there will be great happiness afterward.”
Zaluzhnyi, who was dismissed by President Volodymyr Zelenskiy in February 2024 after long-standing tensions, added that Russia retains enough resources to continue its war effort.
Focus Shifting to High-Tech Survival
Speaking candidly about Ukraine’s strategic posture, Zaluzhnyi warned that with fewer resources and a faltering economy, Ukraine’s only viable path forward is through technological advantage. “We can speak only about a high-tech war of survival, using a minimum of economic means to achieve maximum benefit,” he said.
His remarks reflect growing realism among Ukrainian elites amid faltering counteroffensives and waning Western aid.
As international pressure mounts, Ukraine has tentatively agreed to direct negotiations with Moscow, demanding at least a 30-day ceasefire as a precondition. Meanwhile, EU officials, frustrated by Russia’s intransigence, have rolled out another round of sanctions targeting Moscow’s wartime economy.
Russian President Vladimir Putin indicated that ongoing talks would involve drafting a memorandum outlining ceasefire parameters and broader settlement principles.
Zaluzhnyi's Fall and Zelenskiy's Diplomatic Calculus
Zaluzhnyi, once hailed as a national hero, was ousted after growing friction with Zelenskiy, who has since reoriented the country’s war strategy. Despite his dismissal, Zaluzhnyi remains one of Ukraine’s most popular figures according to polls. Zelenskiy’s own ratings have recovered following a combative February meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, where he pushed back against calls for immediate concessions.
As Ukraine recalibrates its goals, Zaluzhnyi’s blunt comments may signal a broader policy pivot away from maximalist objectives.
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