Monday, February 24, 2025 - Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday, February 23 that he was “ready” to resign as leader if it meant it brought peace to his country, suggesting he could swap it for NATO membership.
Asked at a
press conference if he was ready to quit if it ensures peace for Ukraine,
Zelensky said:
“If [it
guarantees] peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to resign, I am ready. I
can exchange it for NATO.”
Zelensky’s
comments follow an escalating spat with Donald Trump after the US president
accused Ukraine of starting the conflict. Trump later admitted “Russia
attacked” but blamed his predecessor Joe Biden and Zelensky for not stopping
the fighting sooner.
When
Zelensky hit back, accusing the US president of being in a “disinformation
space” – Trump called Zelensky a “dictator,” straining ties at a pivotal moment
in the conflict. US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia this week for
“exploratory” talks about how to end the war but left Kyiv to watch from afar,
sparking panic from European allies.
The
Ukrainian president has previously said his country’s army will need to double
in size if NATO denies it membership to the alliance and earlier this month, US
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that Kyiv joining NATO was unrealistic.
Zelensky
on Sunday said his approach with the Trump administration is “pragmatic.”
“There is
no space for emotions here,” he said. Referring to Trump’s remarks about him,
the Ukrainian leader said: “Obviously, I would not say President Trump’s words
about me are compliments, to say the least.”
Over
Saturday night, Russia launched a record 267 drones at Ukraine, killing at
least one person, in an unprecedented attack on the eve of the third
anniversary of Russia’s war in the country, Ukrainian authorities said Sunday.
“Every
day, our people are resisting aerial terror,” Zelensky said Sunday, adding that
the overnight attack was “the largest attack since Iranian drones started
hitting Ukrainian cities and villages.”
“We need to
do our best to bring a lasting and just peace to Ukraine. This is possible in
the unity of all partners – we need the strength of all of Europe, the strength
of America, the strength of everyone who wants a lasting peace,” Zelensky said
on X.
Zelensky
also spoke about the draft deal between the US and Ukraine over rare earth
minerals and other natural resources.
The US is
trying to gain access to Ukraine’s critical minerals and other resources as
part of wider negotiations aimed at ending the war in Ukraine. In return,
Ukraine has been pushing for security guarantees.
At the
press conference, Zelensky told reporters that he wants a successful agreement
and that he hopes the US will not freeze military support to Ukraine in the
process of reaching an agreement.
“We will
sign this – the first agreement, or memo, memo on which base we will prepare
other documents,” he said. “So, I hope it will not have influence on other
steps of the United States, and they will not cancel or stop or freeze any
support, especially military support to Ukraine. That’s crucial for us.”
Asked if
he thinks he can mend his relationship with Trump, Zelensky said presidents
should not lose the partnership between their countries.
“That’s why, for me, it is very important to have the support of the president, and support of senate, congress, your two parties, but first of all the support for your people. And I count on it very much and I am thankful we have it,” he said
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