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On Sunday, just a day before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Volodymyr Zelensky declared that he would be willing to step down as Ukraine’s president if it ensured the country’s entry into NATO, signaling his commitment to securing stronger Western defense ties.
Under pressure from the new US administration, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed his desire to meet Donald Trump ahead of the US president’s anticipated talks with Vladimir Putin. Zelensky has been pushing for Ukraine’s NATO membership as a key condition for any peace deal, but the alliance, led by Washington, has remained hesitant to offer firm commitments.
“If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready. … I can exchange it for NATO,” Zelensky told a Kyiv news conference.
Tensions between Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump have escalated following last week’s high-level talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia—their first in three years. The meeting, which sidelined both Ukraine and European leaders, signaled a shift away from the West’s strategy of isolating Moscow, sparking outrage in Kyiv and across Europe.
Over the past week, Trump has intensified his criticism of Zelensky, labeling him a “dictator” and falsely asserting that Ukraine “started” the war. He also dismissed independent polls, insisting—without evidence—that Zelensky was losing support among Ukrainians.
Read also: Russia Vs Ukraine: British PM Starmer Shows Support For Zelensky
Zelensky shrugged off Trump’s comments, insisting he was not “offended” and remained assured of his standing with the Ukrainian people. He reaffirmed his readiness to face elections once martial law is over.
“One would be offended by the word ‘dictator,’ if he was a dictator,” Zelensky told journalists.
“I very much want from Trump an understanding of each other,” he said, adding that “security guarantees” from the US president were “much needed”.
The Ukrainian leader also called for Trump to meet with him before any summit with Putin. There had been “progress”, he added, on a deal to give the United States preferential access to Ukraine’s critical resources.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the ongoing dialogue between Trump and Vladimir Putin, referring to both leaders as “extraordinary” and expressing optimism about the talks, calling them “promising.”
