Ukraine's Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Valerii Zaluzhnyi, who served as Commander-in-Chief of the Ukrainian Armed Forces from 2021 to 2024, discussed challenges to international security with Dutch military officers participating in the Higher Defence Education programme.
"Europe needs new doctrines and a new security system that reflect the realities of modern warfare. This is not just about technology and drones, but also about the tactics of their deployment, their integration into the organisational structure of the armed forces, and the establishment of new production facilities. Old systems continue to operate through inertia. Arms manufacturers, for example, have multimillion-pound contracts stretching decades into the future. Are they interested in seeing their market niche taken over by new, inexpensive drones? The answer is obvious," Zaluzhnyi wrote following the meeting.
According to Zaluzhnyi, military personnel shortages represent another major challenge, particularly for smaller European countries that cannot rely on large mobilisation reserves.
"The only way forward is to introduce defence technologies and implement intelligent mobilisation," the former Commander-in-Chief said.
The diplomat also emphasised the need for political will to pursue change, clearly defined objectives, strategies for achieving them, and a readiness to make decisions that may not always be popular.
"Europe has the resources, the technologies, and an ally in Ukraine — one of only two countries in the world with real experience of modern warfare. By drawing on Ukraine's experience, we have every opportunity to build a common European security system capable of responding effectively to a world of new threats," Zaluzhnyi concluded.
