The UK and Europe can help Ukraine prevail with or without Trump
General Valerii Zaluzhnyi, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Ukraine to the United Kingdom and former Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of Ukraine looks around the exhibition, at the Tank museum on April 03, 2025 in Bovington, Dorset Credit: Finnbarr Webster/Getty
07 April 2025 6:03pm BST
The world seems a pretty grim place this beautiful spring morning, with President Trump trying to trash the world economy to “Make America Rich Again”. The war rages in Ukraine, with President Putin showing absolutely no inclination for any sort of peace any time soon, as he kills another 16 people including five children in President Zelensky’s home town of Kryvyi Rih. After all, he thinks he’s winning
However, all is not gloom and doom, especially not in the depths of Dorset, the home of Lawrence of Arabia, who knew rather more about wartime peace-making than the US president. It’s also the home of the Royal Armoured Corps and the Royal Tank Regiment, which I had the singular honour to command. I was at the Tank Museum in Dorset last Thursday for the opening of the Ukraine armoured warfare exhibition by General Zaluzhnyi, the Ukrainian ambassador to the UK and former Ukraine military commander.
The general gave a measured and statesman like address amongst the Russian and Ukrainian tanks on display. His quiet dignified resolve, that Ukraine will keep fighting the tyranny from the east for as long as it takes, is in stark contrast to the bluff and bluster from the man in the White House who wants to bribe and be bribed to end the killing in Ukraine. General Zaluzhnyi also made it clear how very important Britain’s steadfast support has been from the outset and the vital role the British Army has had in training thousands of conscripts. Boris Johnson, this time, must take huge credit for getting behind Kyiv from the outset, as also should Sir Keir Starmer who is galvanising Europe to stand up the tyrant in the Kremlin.
Ukraine, with British help, and other members of the “Coalition of the Willing” is sorting out its manpower problem, whereas Russia just throws untrained conscripts to their certain death in the meat grinder of the front. Putin’s latest mobilisation of 150,000 young Russians could be his latest and most damaging strategic error. When he tried a similar mobilisation at the beginning of the war, thousands of Russians “patriots” fled the country, and now the” Mothers of Russia” are rising against him if recent reports are to be believed. He knows, more than most, that it was the mothers who forced the Kremlin to withdraw in defeat from Afghanistan in 1984, and defeat in Ukraine will not lead to a peaceful retirement for the Russian dictator.
General Zaluzhnyi gave me confidence that the UK and Europe can help Ukraine prevail with or without Trump. At last Europe is getting serious about its own defence, and at least Trump’s ramblings have made this possible. I know military planners have been burning the midnight oil for months to assemble and train a force capable of enforcing a peace in Ukraine. This also involves drawing up plans to assemble an air defence force of around 140 fighter jets to secure the skies and create a ‘No Fly Zone’ over the front lines.
The Russian air force is in similar disarray to its Navy and Army and this considerable show of resolve by Europe, led by the UK and France, should be enough to hold and turn the Russians: even if the Americans refuse to get out of their trench to help, as their forebears always did in the past.
Hamish de Bretton-Gordon is a former British Army officer. He commanded the 1st Royal Tank Regiment
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Here is the General’s latest post from his LinkedIn page :
Valerii Zaluzhnyi
Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland
National Defence Academy of Ukraine Embassy of Ukraine in the UK
London, England, United Kingdom
These days mark the anniversary of the liberation of Chernihiv — a city that has become a symbol of invincibility. Surrounded, cut off from communication, short on weapons, yet full of unshakable faith in freedom, Chernihiv endured. It was defended not only by soldiers but by ordinary Ukrainians — volunteers, territorial defense forces, and military personnel — armed with weapons and an indomitable spirit.
That same spirit is what this exhibition embodies today. Here, at the British Tank Museum, you’ll see tanks and armored vehicles brought directly from the frontlines in Ukraine.
More than a century ago, the tank first appeared on the battlefield and forever changed the course of war. It was a revolution — an armored vehicle capable of breaking through trenches and deadlocks. From that moment, tanks became the symbol of military innovation and, until the Second World War, the dominant force on the battlefield.
Since 2022, Ukraine has received from its Western partners a different military equipment — tanks and armored vehicles of all kinds. Their powerful armor has saved countless Ukrainian lives, and for this, we are deeply grateful.
But the war in Ukraine has revealed something else: even the most advanced armored vehicles are losing their dominance in the face of modern threats — drones, precision strikes, and digital warfare. Tanks alone no longer guarantee victory. The world stands at the threshold of a new era in warfare.
This exhibition is not just about machines. It’s about people. About Ukrainian soldiers fighting for their homeland. About British instructors who shared their invaluable knowledge. About the families forced to flee, who still hold on to hope.
We did not choose this war — but we chose not to give up.
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Comment from :
Thank you for this post and for recognizing Chernihiv as a symbol of resilience. For us, the people of Chernihiv, these days are not just an anniversary of liberation but a reminder of the unwavering spirit of all those who defended our city—soldiers, volunteers, territorial defense forces, and ordinary citizens.
As Chernihiv city council member and person who is working on Chernihiv’s recovery and advocating for it on the international stage, it is especially important to me that you highlight our city. This is not just a story of defense but also of the future—of how we are rebuilding Chernihiv and ensuring its place as a modern European city.
Thank you for your service!
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I am often asked how my background in the Armed Forces of Ukraine — having progressed through every level of command, including the role of Commander-in-Chief — informs my current work as Ukraine’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
The answer lies in an area that is gaining increasing strategic importance for our country: defence diplomacy.
Today, as Ukraine continues to resist full-scale aggression, effective coordination with our international partners on military assistance is not simply beneficial — it is vital. And that coordination demands deep operational understanding.
No negotiation concerning wartime support can be effective without military insight. Only those with operational experience can accurately define what calibre and quantity of ammunition are needed, which capabilities must be delivered yesterday, and which security assurances hold true on the battlefield — and which do not.
Civilians, understandably, may lack this knowledge. And so a key part of defence diplomacy is bridging that gap — translating complex military realities into shared understanding with policymakers, diplomats, and governments.
Importantly, this specialised field operates within the broader framework of traditional diplomacy, which I was already engaged in as Commander-in-Chief — including at the highest international levels.
One exemplary case of defence diplomacy in action is the joint coordination centre in Wiesbaden, Germany, where Ukrainian and partner nation military officials established a comprehensive system for identifying and addressing Ukraine’s urgent defence needs. This has enabled more responsive and targeted support from our allies.
So, does military experience help in diplomacy?
It does more than help. It is indispensable — especially for a country defending its sovereignty. It allows us to speak with clarity, urgency, and credibility — and to ensure that the voices of those on the frontlines are heard in the rooms where decisions are made.
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Comment from :
When an enemy is actively preparing for ongoing armed conflict – mobilising 160,000 men and firing over 4000 drones a month – only people with military experience see reality crystal clear.
Thank you for your service!
Dawna Meeks
I wish the US approached the people put into positions such as yours as intelligently as yours has. Our “negotiators” and “diplomats” are nowhere near as qualified as you are. Their sole qualifications seem to be they will do what our leader says.
Good luck with your endeavors. I sincerely think about your country and what they are facing all day. I’m truly sorry for the position that trump is taking. Understand that if we can finally get he and musk out of office, support will recommence from us. The people of the US support Ukraine and are livid as well as terrified at trump/musks abandonment of your nation.
For those who missed it, here’s what the General said one month ago at Chatham House:
US ‘destroying’ world order, Ukraine’s ambassador to UK says:
https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cgq9n48el43o
“Understand that if we can finally get he and musk out of office, support will recommence from us.”
I hope that we can oust this POS and his little South African butt giver before his four years are up. If we had a functioning government and Supreme Court, he would already be impeached and pout on trial.
Good to see some infighting going on. The DT reports that Muskovy stated that Peter Navarro: aka “Ron Vara”, is “dumber than a sack of bricks.”
For once I can agree with Muskovy.
Says the sack of bricks to the sack of bricks.