Zelensky Ready To Resign For Guaranteed Ukraine’s NATO Membership
Volodymyr Zelensky indicated Sunday, on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, that he was willing to step down as Ukraine’s president if it meant joining NATO.
Zelensky, who has received harsh criticism from the new US administration, has stated that he would like to meet with Donald Trump before the president talks with his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin.
The Ukraine President has advocated for Ukraine’s NATO membership as part of any peace agreement, but the Washington-led alliance has been hesitant to commit.
“If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” Zelensky told a Kyiv news conference. “I can exchange it for NATO.”
BBC: Are you ready to step down for peace?
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) February 23, 2025
Zelensky: I am ready to step down for peace
If no peace, I am happy to step down in exchange for NATO for Ukraine
I am focused on security for Ukraine here and today and not staying in power for decades pic.twitter.com/3SZfnsiUYz
Zelensky and Trump have been exchanging barbs since US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia last week for their first high-level talks in three years.
The decision compromised the West’s aim of isolating the Kremlin while also infuriating Ukrainian and European leaders who were barred from attending the meeting.
In recent days, Trump has dubbed Zelensky a “dictator,” falsely claimed Ukraine “started” the war, and claimed, according to independent opinion polls, that Ukraine’s leader was unpopular at home.
Zelensky stated that he was not “offended” by Trump’s remarks and was prepared to test his popularity in elections whenever Ukraine’s martial law was lifted.
“I very much want from Trump an understanding of each other,” he told journalists, adding that “security guarantees” from the US president were “much needed”.
The Ukrainian leader also requested that Trump meet with him before any summit with Putin.
Putin, speaking on the eve of the anniversary of his “special military operation” in Ukraine, stated that “God” was behind his “mission” to defend Russia.
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“Fate willed it so, God willed it so, if I may say so. A mission as difficult as it is honourable — defending Russia — has been placed on our and your shoulders together,” he told servicemen who have fought in Ukraine.
Moscow’s army launched a record 267 attack drones into Ukraine overnight Saturday and Sunday, according to Kyiv’s air force. Most were shot down or intercepted, and there were no reports of significant damage.
According to Russia’s TASS news agency, US and Russian officials will meet next week as a follow-up to talks in Riyadh between Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
The outlet also stated that Lavrov arrived in Turkey on Monday for discussions with his Turkish counterpart, Hakan Fidan.
Zelensky Ready To Resign For Guaranteed Ukraine’s NATO Membership
