Zelensky open to stepping down if It secures Ukraine’s NATO membership

As Ukraine approaches the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky has suggested he would be willing to relinquish his position if it meant securing peace and NATO membership for Ukraine. He stated that if stepping down would help achieve peace, he was prepared to do so, emphasizing that his priority remains Ukraine’s security in the present rather than his political future.

His remarks came in response to recent criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump, who had referred to him as a “dictator without elections.” Zelensky, who was democratically elected in May 2019, dismissed the comments, stating that a true dictator would have been offended. He reiterated that elections remain suspended under martial law, which has been in place since Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

Zelensky is set to meet Western leaders, some in Kyiv and others online to discuss post-war security arrangements, particularly in the absence of long-term U.S. military commitments. NATO membership for Ukraine is expected to be a key topic, with the Ukrainian president hoping for a “turning point” in discussions, though he admitted uncertainty about the outcome.

Addressing Trump’s potential role in the war’s resolution, Zelensky stressed that he hoped the U.S. leader would act as a partner rather than a mere mediator between Ukraine and Russia. He also responded to U.S. demands for access to Ukraine’s valuable natural minerals in exchange for continued military aid, clarifying that past assistance had been provided as grants, not loans. While he acknowledged ongoing negotiations regarding resource-sharing, he insisted that any deal must follow the end of the war, ensuring Ukraine’s sovereignty remains intact.

The president’s comments came just hours after Russia launched its largest-ever drone attack on Ukraine. On Saturday night, Ukrainian officials reported a record 267 drones deployed in a coordinated assault across 13 regions.

The attack led to significant damage to infrastructure and at least three casualties. While Ukraine’s air defenses intercepted 138 drones, an additional 119 decoy drones were neutralized through electronic countermeasures. In Kyiv, the attack resulted in six hours of continuous air alerts.

Following the assault, Zelensky expressed gratitude to Ukraine’s emergency responders and urged European and American allies to help secure a “lasting and just peace.” His wife, First Lady Olena Zelenska, echoed his sentiments in a post on social media, describing the attack as a night of explosions, burning homes, and destroyed infrastructure.

Diplomatic negotiations surrounding a potential peace deal remain complex, with the U.S., European allies, and Ukraine presenting differing approaches to ending the war. While Washington and Moscow recently held preliminary talks in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian or European representatives, European leaders quickly organized a summit in Paris to discuss the matter. Zelensky criticized Ukraine’s exclusion from these discussions, accusing Trump of operating within a “disinformation space” shaped by Moscow.

As Ukraine enters its fourth year of war, the international community continues to debate the best path forward. With Zelensky standing firm on Ukraine’s security and sovereignty, and major global players involved in diplomatic negotiations, the future of the conflict remains uncertain.