Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his willingness to step down from office if it guarantees peace and Ukraine’s membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
In a conversation with BBC News, Zelenskyy responded to a question about his political future, saying:
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“I am ready to step down for peace. If no peace, I am happy to step down in exchange for NATO for Ukraine. I am focused on security for Ukraine here and today and not staying in power for decades.”
The statement was shared on social media by Tymofiy Mylovanov, President of the Kyiv School of Economics.
Zelenskyy’s Meeting with US Envoy
On February 20, Zelenskyy met with US Special Presidential Envoy for Russia and Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, in Kyiv. The discussions focused on:
- The battlefield situation in Ukraine
- The return of Ukrainian prisoners of war
- Strengthening security guarantees
Zelenskyy also emphasized Ukraine’s commitment to peace and its desire for a strong investment and security agreement with the United States.
“Ukraine has sought peace since the first second of this war. We must ensure that peace is strong and lasting so that Russia can never return to war,” he said in a post on X.
He further thanked the US for its bipartisan support and reaffirmed that strong Ukraine-US relations benefit the entire world.
Donald Trump’s Criticism of Zelenskyy
The meeting came just a day after former US President Donald Trump made strong remarks against Zelenskyy, accusing him of persuading the US to invest billions in a “war that couldn’t be won.”
In a post on Truth Social, Trump criticized the disparity in financial contributions between the US and Europe, stating:
“The United States has spent $200 billion dollars more than Europe, and Europe’s money is guaranteed, while the US will get nothing back.”
Trump also called Zelenskyy a dictator for not holding elections, adding that he is “low in Ukrainian polls and was only good at playing Biden like a fiddle.”
He further alleged that half of the US funds sent to Ukraine are missing, questioning the accountability of the aid.
