On the eve of the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, the Ukrainian president vowed to stand down in exchange for NATO membership – and peace for his war-torn country
Zelenskyy says he would ‘step down’ as president to secure peace
Volodymyr Zelensky is willing to sacrifice his presidency to secure peace for war-torn Ukraine.
On the eve of the three-year anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, he vowed to stand down in exchange for NATO membership.
The embattled leader’s remarks come after his country suffered hundreds of Kremlin drone attacks, despite peace talks. And it follows Donald Trump falsely branding Zelensky — who bravely stayed in Ukraine at the invasion’s outset — a “dictator”.
The US president’s return to the White House has flipped Washington’s stance on its head — after helping bankroll Ukraine’s defence.
“If to achieve peace, you really need me to give up my post, I’m ready,” Zelensky said in response to a question at a press conference on Sunday. “I can trade it for NATO.”
Zelensky — elected in a 2019 landslide — said he was focused on his country’s security now rather than in 20 years. It is not his “dream” to remain president for decades.
Zelensky also said European leaders will meet in Ukraine on Monday to discuss strategy “not for the coming years, but for the coming weeks”. Ukraine needs support from the US and Europe, Zelensky added.
In a week or two leaders will meet in a capital city in the EU to “understand what security guarantees Ukraine might have”, he explained. NATO will be “on the table” in negotiations to end the war but Zelensky admitted he did not know how talks would end.
“But it is important for all of us to understand that it is not a table where Ukraine is invited,” he said.
The Ukrainian leader said he was “grateful” for support from both Joe Biden and Trump administrations in Washington. He wants understanding and security guarantees from Trump to aid Ukraine, he said.
Zelensky said he had invited the US President to his country — telling how he wants him there “very much”. He added that “maybe he will come or maybe I will go to Washington and it will be very useful”.
And on US demands for a share in Ukraine’s rare Earth minerals, Zelensky — who had rejected the suggestion — said “we are ready to speak about minerals”.
He said his nation was “ready to share”, but added that the US needs to make Vladimir Putin “end this war”. Ukraine needs security guarantees, he said — explaining draft deals offered to date are not what his country wants.
On the talks with EU leaders, Zelensky said if there are disagreements “it looks like an unhappy family”.
“It’s not a toy, it’s a war,” he said. “We need partnership, we need help but we can’t lose our independence, we can’t lose our dignity”.
He said he hopes today’s meeting with European leaders will be a “turning point”.
In reference to Trump’s labelling of him as a “dictator who’s doing a terrible job”, Zelensky said he would not call the US president’s remarks “a compliment”.
“I wasn’t offended, but a dictator would be,” he added with a smile.
