KYIV: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he was ready to step down if it brought peace. He also said he would resign if it secured NATO membership for Ukraine.
Zelenskyy made these remarks during a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday.
“If my resignation brings peace, I am ready,” Zelenskyy said. “If stepping down gets Ukraine into NATO, let’s do it. I focus on Ukraine’s security now, not in 20 years. I have no plan to stay in power for a decade.”
His comments follow criticism from former U.S. President Donald Trump. Trump called him a “dictator without elections” and blamed him for prolonging the war. Last week, after U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia, Trump warned Zelenskyy to “move fast or lose his country.”
Trump has worsened ties with Zelenskyy. He falsely blames Ukraine for the war and seeks to restore relations with Russia. Notably, Ukraine was not invited to the Saudi Arabia talks.
The Trump administration now pressures Zelenskyy to sign a $500 billion deal. Under the proposal, Ukraine must repay U.S. aid by handing over 50% of its natural resource revenue. The deal includes minerals, oil, gas, ports, and other infrastructure. Trump calls it back pay for past U.S. assistance.
Zelenskyy has refused to sign. He says the deal lacks guarantees and demands far more than Ukraine received. The Kiel Institute in Germany estimates the U.S. has provided $119 billion in aid since 2022.
At the press conference, Zelenskyy rejected the $500 billion demand. He said Ukraine has received only $100 billion from the U.S. He also criticized the terms, noting Ukraine would repay $2 for every $1 received.
“I want a fair dialogue with Trump,” Zelenskyy said. “I won’t sign a deal that forces Ukrainians to pay for ten generations.”
