Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Sunday (February 23, 2025) that he would be willing to resign as Ukraine’s president immediately in return for the country gaining NATO membership.
“If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready. … I can exchange it for NATO,” Mr. Zelenskyy announced at a press conference in Kyiv, stating that he would step down immediately if necessary.
Additionally, Mr. Zelenskyy expressed his belief that a meeting between himself and U.S. president Donald Trump should take place before any potential meeting between Mr. Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin to discuss an agreement that would grant Washington access to Ukrainian natural resources.
Regarding Ukrainian security concerns, Mr. Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of a fair meeting and discussion to reach an agreement, stating, “we need to meet and talk about it. I think that this meeting should be fair, which means before Trump meets Putin.”
Furthermore, the Ukrainian President addressed recent comments made by Mr. Trump, clarifying that he does not view himself as an illegitimate dictator. He stated, “I certainly would not describe the words Trump used as a compliment. One would be offended by the word dictator if he was a dictator. I’m not. I’m the legally elected president.”
Published – February 23, 2025 10:15 pm IST
