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Zelenskyy’s remarks came after Trump’s allies suggested that he may need to resign to achieve a truce between Russia and Ukraine following an ugly exchange at the White House.
Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Photo: Reuters)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reiterated his willingness to step down from his position if his country gets the NATO membership, saying his mission would be “fulfilled” if Kyiv was allowed to join the military alliance.
While speaking to reporters after a European Leaders’ summit hosted by British PM Keir Starmer in London, Zelenskyy addressed his previous comments about stepping down if Ukraine is allowed to join NATO, saying, “I am exchangeable for NATO.”
“I have said that I am exchanging for NATO membership, then it means I have fulfilled my mission. NATO means I have fulfilled my mission,” he told Sky News. “To change me, it will not be easy because it is not enough to simply hold elections. You would need to prevent me from participating. And it will be a bit more difficult.”
Zelensky says he will resign and have new elections in exchange for Ukraine joining NATO.If Putin really wants peace and Trump really wants peace they should immediately agree, right?
— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) March 3, 2025
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Zelenskyy Rebuffs US Calls To Resign
The Ukrainian President also rebuffed calls from US President Donald Trump’s allies suggesting that he may need to resign to achieve peace after an ugly exchange with Trump and Vice President JD Vance in the White House last week.
His remarks came after Republican officials held him as the greater obstacle to peace. “Either he needs to come to his senses and come back to the table in gratitude, or someone else needs to lead the country to do that,” said House Speaker Mike Johnson.
US Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, a top Trump ally and also an advocate for Ukraine, told reporters earlier that it’s uncertain whether the United States can ever do business with Zelenskyy and suggested he should resign.
The rare public spat — with Trump calling the Ukrainian “disrespectful” — resulted in Zelenskyy leaving the White House without the anticipated signing of a preliminary pact on sharing Ukrainian mineral rights. Trump said that Zelenskyy did not appear to favour peace.
Zelenskyy refused to walk back his stance and said Ukraine’s relations with the US would continue. “This is more than relations during a certain moment. We must be open,” he said, adding that he will come back to America if he is invited for “constructive dialogue”.
Upon being asked by a reporter about Graham’s statement that Zelenskyy should consider resigning, the Ukrainian President said, “Lindsay Graham is a very good guy… I can give him the citizenship of Ukraine. He will become a citizen of our country, and then his voice will gain weight.”
Will Zelenskyy Step Down?
Last month, Zelenskyy said he would “immediately” quit as Ukraine’s president in exchange for the country gaining NATO membership. The Ukrainian leader has insisted on a lasting peace based on security guarantees to avoid another invasion.
“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, adding he would depart “immediately” if necessary.
However, the US has already ruled out allowing Ukraine into NATO amid fierce opposition from Moscow, calling it an “unrealistic move”. Just before the heated exchange, Trump said Ukraine would have to make some compromises to end the three-year war.
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