Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Sunday that he is prepared to resign if it would guarantee peace for Ukraine or secure immediate NATO membership for the country.
“If it is peace for Ukraine, and if you really want me to leave my post, I’m ready,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Kyiv. “Alternatively, I can trade this for NATO membership, if such conditions exist, immediately, so we don’t have lengthy discussions. I’m focusing on Ukraine’s security today, not in 20 years. And I don’t intend to stay in power for decades.”
Zelenskyy’s remarks come at a time of escalating tensions with former U.S. President Donald Trump, who has been critical of U.S. support for Ukraine. Last week, Trump accused Zelenskyy of being a “dictator without elections” and said the Ukrainian president was responsible for starting the war.
In response, Zelenskyy dismissed the criticism, stating that he remained focused on Ukraine’s security. “We are partners and I want him on our side,” he said when asked about the U.S. president.
The feud between Ukraine and the U.S. comes as Russia and the U.S. have resumed high-level talks.
Trump has pledged to begin peace talks to end the war in Ukraine, saying on Friday that it’s not important for Zelenskyy to attend peace negotiations because “he’s been at meetings for three years and nothing got done.”
Zelenskyy earlier said that Ukraine will not accept any peace settlement made without its direct involvement. “I will never accept any decisions between the United States and Russia about Ukraine, never,” he said.
Zelenskyy’s latest remarks come in the wake of an unprecedented Russian drone attack on Ukraine, which saw 267 drones launched at various targets across the country.
Every day, our people stand against aerial terror. On the eve of the third anniversary of the full-scale war, Russia launched 267 attack drones against Ukraine — the largest attack since Iranian drones began striking Ukrainian cities and villages. In total, nearly 1,150 attack… pic.twitter.com/YvCNuZorvX
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 23, 2025
Speaking about the attack, Zelenskyy said, “We need to do our best to bring 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.”
