Zelensky offers resignation for peace, NATO membership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky recently stated that he would be willing to resign if it meant bringing peace to Ukraine, proposing that he could exchange his resignation for NATO membership.
At a press conference on Sunday, Zelensky said, “If it guarantees peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to resign, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO.”
This comment came amid rising tensions with the US, especially following remarks from US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth earlier this month, who dismissed the idea of Ukraine joining NATO as unrealistic. This contradicted the NATO alliance’s previous stance that Ukraine was on an “irreversible path” to membership.
Zelensky’s comments also come amid criticism from US President Donald Trump, who has called Zelensky a “dictator” for suspending elections in Ukraine due to the ongoing war. Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s invasion, which prevents elections from taking place.
In addition to addressing the NATO issue, Zelensky pushed back against Trump’s demand for Ukraine to provide $500 billion worth of its rare earth minerals and natural resources as part of a proposed deal. Trump suggested that this figure would reflect the amount of aid the US has given to Ukraine during the war. Zelensky responded, saying, “I am not going to recognize $500 billion,” explaining that such a deal would burden future generations. “I cannot sign anything that ten generations of Ukrainians would have to pay back,” he stated.
The US has been a key ally of Ukraine under President Biden, providing military aid worth billions. However, Trump has made it clear that he believes the US should stop providing aid unless there is a direct return on that investment.
Tensions between Zelensky and Trump escalated recently, after Trump falsely accused Ukraine of starting the conflict. He later admitted that Russia had attacked but blamed both Biden and Zelensky for not stopping the war sooner. This has led to strained relations at a crucial time in the conflict. US and Russian officials recently held talks in Saudi Arabia to explore ways to end the war, but Ukraine was not part of the discussions, which raised concerns among European allies.
Zelensky acknowledged the challenges but emphasized that his approach with the Trump administration was “pragmatic.” He added, “There is no space for emotions here,” and remarked that Trump’s comments about him were hardly flattering.
On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Russia launched a record 267 drones at Ukraine, killing at least one person in what Ukrainian authorities called the largest drone attack since Iranian-made drones began targeting Ukrainian cities. Zelensky described the attack as an act of “aerial terror” and emphasized the need for a “lasting and just peace.”
Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s defense intelligence chief, described the attack as a form of intimidation, calling it a “terrorist act.”
Zelensky reiterated his hope for a successful peace agreement and urged the US to continue its military support for Ukraine during negotiations. He stressed that the US’s backing was crucial, particularly for Ukraine’s defense efforts.
Zelensky also expressed his desire to maintain strong relations with the US, saying, “For me, it is very important to have the support of the president, the Senate, Congress, your two parties, but first of all, the support of your people.”
Meanwhile, Zelensky’s Chief of Staff, Andriy Yermak, left the forum early to have an “important conversation” with American officials. Yermak, along with Ukraine’s First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, spoke with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, National Security Advisor Michael Waltz, and others, noting that progress had been made in their discussions. Yermak also thanked the American people for their bipartisan support over the past three years.
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