Zelensky Ready to Step Down ‘Immediately’ in Exchange for Ukraine’s NATO Membership
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Sunday that he is willing to step down “immediately” in exchange for his country’s admission into NATO.
During a press conference in Kyiv, Zelensky stated: “If there is peace in Ukraine, and if you truly want me to step down, I am ready… I can trade that for NATO membership.” He added that he was prepared to resign “immediately” if necessary.
Zelensky also expressed his desire for U.S. President Donald Trump to be a partner to Ukraine rather than just a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. He rejected the notion that Ukraine owes the United States $500 billion for the aid provided during the war, a figure frequently cited by President Trump. Zelensky argued that grants should not be treated as loans.
The Ukrainian president further stated that Kyiv and Washington are close to reaching an agreement regarding access to Ukraine’s natural resources in exchange for security assistance. He added that Ukrainian and American officials discussed the deal on Sunday.
