During a Sunday press conference in Kyiv, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated he would be willing to step down in exchange for peace in Ukraine or immediate NATO membership.
He emphasized his focus on Ukraine’s present security rather than long-term discussions and affirmed he does not intend to remain in power indefinitely.
Zelenskyy’s statement comes amid rising tensions with U.S. President Donald Trump, who recently suggested that Zelenskyy bore responsibility for the war, despite Russia’s 2022 invasion. In response, Zelenskyy accused Trump of spreading Kremlin-backed disinformation. Trump further escalated the feud by calling Zelenskyy a “dictator” and downplaying his significance in peace talks, arguing that his presence in negotiations had not led to progress.
Despite these remarks, Zelenskyy maintained a pragmatic stance, stressing that his legitimacy comes from the Ukrainian people and that elections would be held after martial law ends.
Meanwhile, the U.S. and Russia have resumed high-level diplomatic discussions, with senior Trump administration officials recently meeting Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia.
Earlier this month, Zelenskyy reiterated that he would not accept any peace agreement brokered solely between the U.S. and Russia, insisting that Ukraine must be directly involved in any negotiations concerning its future.
