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Zelenskyy says he is open to leaving presidency for Ukraine’s NATO membership

"If you really need me to leave my post, I am ready... I can exchange it for NATO,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (AP photo)

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday he would step down if it secured peace for Ukraine, even suggesting he could exchange his position for the country’s NATO membership, as per reports by Reuters.

“If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready… I can exchange it for NATO,” Zelenskyy told a press conference in Kyiv, as reported by Al Arabiya. He added he would depart “immediately” if necessary.

Trump’s ‘dictator’ jibe at Zelenskyy

The remarks came after former US President Donald Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator without elections.” Ukraine has been under martial law since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, preventing elections.

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Zelenskyy also expressed his hope that Trump would offer more than just mediation between Kyiv and Moscow. “I really want it to be more than just mediation… that’s not enough,” he told reporters, as per Reuters. He stressed on the need for US security guarantees. “Security guarantees from Trump are much needed,” he stated, calling for mutual understanding.

Also Read: | Why Ukraine has not held elections in six years

Upcoming summit

Looking ahead, Zelenskyy said an upcoming summit with 13 leaders in person and 24 online might mark a turning point. “We have an important meeting tomorrow… maybe it will be a turning point, we’ll see,” he said, as per Al Arabiya.

He also addressed negotiations with Washington over US access to Ukrainian natural resources in exchange for security assistance. “We are making progress,” he noted, rejecting Trump’s claim that Ukraine owes the US $500 billion for wartime aid. He added that grants should not be treated as loans.

(With inputs from Reuters, The Guardian, Al Arabiya)

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