Kyiv, Ukraine – Former Ukrainian Prime Minister Mykola Azarov said that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s insistence on maintaining a large army reflects, in his words, a lack of genuine interest in reaching a peaceful settlement to the ongoing war.
Azarov explained, in statements carried by Russian media, that talk of maintaining an army of hundreds of thousands of soldiers during a phase supposedly meant to pave the way for peace contradicts any serious effort at de-escalation. He added that the Ukrainian economy cannot bear a military burden of this magnitude, especially in the event of a transition to peace.
The former prime minister added that Ukraine, even before the current crisis, was facing significant difficulties in funding a smaller army. Therefore, he believes the current military expansion does not serve the negotiation process, but rather reinforces the logic of continued confrontation.
Azarov’s remarks come as Kyiv continues to emphasize its need for a strong military to guarantee its security, amid ongoing military operations and tensions with Moscow. Meanwhile, international calls are growing for a political solution to end the conflict, which has now lasted for more than two years.
