The former commander-in-chief of Ukraine, Valery Zaluzhny, has gone so far as to say that the world is already in the phase of a third World War, given that superpowers like the United States and Russia are directly involved in the conflict. Zaluzhny was ousted by President Volodymyr Zelensky in February in a substantial military reshuffle; he is now serving as Ukraine’s envoy to the United Kingdom.
During the UP100 award ceremony organized by Ukrainska Pravda, Zaluzhny stressed that the conflict in Ukraine is now ‘far from a local problem’, as influential players such as the US, North Korea, Iran, and China are making crucial contributions to the conflict. His comment somewhat pointed to confirmation of Ukraine’s long-range missiles strikes inside Russia, assisted by supplies from the United States and United Kingdom.
Zaluzhny pointed out that the presence of North Korean troops in Russia and the possible deployment of Chinese weaponry on the battlefield mean the war is no longer confined to Ukrainian territory. “At the beginning of 2024, Ukraine is not fighting only against Russia. Soldiers from North Korea are standing before Ukraine. Let’s be honest,” he said. He also criticized Iranian forces, declaring, “They are already openly attacking civilians in Ukraine.
According to reports cited by the Western media, Russia has amassed nearly 50,000 troops from both its country and North Korean workers for a counter-offensive in Kursk Oblast, an area now occupied by Ukrainian forces. Zaluzhny called for more support from Ukraine’s Western allies for Kyiv, warning that not taking action could result in further prolonging the conflict. “It is still possible to stop this war here, on the territory of Ukraine. But for some reason, our partners refuse to understand this,” he lamented.
Zaluzhny’s removal from his military post came amid reported differences with Zelensky over war strategies, and his growing popularity saw him as a threat to the president’s authority, hence his transfer to the diplomatic role in London.
