- July 13, 2025
- 1:22 pm
- Brief news
The former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Valerii Zaluzhnyi published a strategic column in which he compared the experience of Ukraine and Israel. He is convinced — without reviewing relations with partners, there will be no victory. Valerii Zaluzhnyi called to change Ukraine’s approach to interacting with allies, relying on Israeli experience.
“An interesting example of effective use of various tools is Israel’s practice in communication with the United States. It was precisely such actions that eventually led to the fact that in 1989 the United States officially recognized Israel as a ‘major non-NATO ally’, which legally secured preferential conditions for defense cooperation”, – emphasized Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, now representing Ukraine in London.
When an alliance stops working — it’s time to become a player, not a petitioner
A new war — new rules. And Ukraine can no longer afford the old tactics
Ukraine has reached a point where everything that once seemed stable — foreign aid, alliances, commitments — suddenly became shaky. So says Valerii Zaluzhnyi, former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, now representing Ukraine in London.
In a column published (ukr.) on July 11, 2025 in “Ukrainska Pravda”, he speaks sharply: “Ukraine can no longer rely on the old model of relations with allies”. A model where everything depends on emergency requests and reactions to events. Now it doesn’t work.
The new reality: the US withdraws, Europe hesitates, China advances
Zaluzhnyi says what many prefer not to. America is exhausted. Europe is paralyzed. And China and Russia are increasingly filling the vacuum. In this chaos, Ukraine has only two options — either become part of the new security architecture or remain a temporary client of others’ interests.
That is why he points out: Israel is not just a US ally, but a systematic partner. And Ukraine should learn from it.
There is no place for emotions in the Israeli approach — only calculation
Israel built its interaction with the US not through “closeness”, but through formal mechanisms. Since the late 1980s, when Washington officially recognized it as a major non-NATO ally, Israel has operated within procedures, not impulses.
Zaluzhnyi says bluntly: Ukraine needs a similar model. Without it, there will be neither sustainable support nor a real partnership.
Defense and burnout: what’s happening on Ukraine’s front line
Ukrainian soldiers today live under constant threat. Drones, missiles, cluster strikes — all of this destroys not only positions, but also morale.
“Our army is wearing out. People are burning out. And the margin of safety is not infinite,” — writes Zaluzhnyi.
While the US and EU debate, Ukraine is losing people every day. And if a system of protection — including technological — is not created, this exhaustion may become irreversible.
Why transferring old US missiles is not “charity” but strategic calculation
| Type of weapon | Amount in the US | Production period | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hellfire missiles | 170,000+ | 1998–2018 | Partially decommissioned |
| Replacement program | JAGM | Active | Replacing Hellfire |
Old ammunition stockpiles are not garbage, but a resource. The US doesn’t need to spend billions on their disposal. Ukraine can effectively use them on the battlefield. This is not charity, but a mutually beneficial deal.
What Ukraine must do: not ask, but design
- Stop reactive requests “in response to tragedy”
- Start expert work with US institutions in advance
- Create mechanisms of direct analytical connection between Kyiv and Washington
- Show the US that helping Ukraine means preserving their global leadership
Security is not emotions, it’s architecture
Zaluzhnyi points out that current support depends on political fluctuations, especially in the US. But Western institutions work differently: a formal request — means a mandatory response. Even if political will is temporarily lacking.
That is the Israeli approach. Not panic. Not declarations. But a systematic submission that Washington is obliged to respond to.
Ukraine cannot afford to lose in communication
Because if we don’t show the world that Ukraine’s defeat is the West’s defeat — who will?
Zaluzhnyi is convinced: now is the time to think ahead. Not about the next weapons shipment, but about what war the world will be fighting in two years — and who will shape it.
Conclusion: alliance is not mercy, it’s calculation. Israel understood that. It’s time for Ukraine
Ukraine has already proven that it can hold on. Now it needs to prove that it can be equal in partnership.
That means reworking everything: from request structure to negotiation strategy. Remove emotion. Switch on planning. And understand clearly: without the US, there will be no future alliance, but without Ukraine’s request — the US won’t hear.
NAnews — Israel News will continue to monitor the development of this strategic direction. After all, at the intersection of Ukrainian resilience and Israeli experience, a new formula for security may be born.
