Zelensky Offers to Step Down if It Secures Ukraine’s NATO Membership
On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that he would be willing to step down if it meant Ukraine could join NATO.
“If there is peace for Ukraine, if my resignation is the condition, I am ready … I can exchange it for NATO,” Zelensky said at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday.
Zelensky, who has faced mounting criticism from the new U.S. administration, also called for a meeting with President Donald Trump before Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ukraine’s leader has long pushed for NATO membership as part of a broader peace deal, but the alliance remains hesitant to make a firm commitment.
Escalating Tensions with Trump
Zelensky and Trump have clashed in recent days following high-level U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia—the first such meeting in three years. The talks, which excluded Ukraine and European allies, have sparked concerns about a shift in Western policy toward Russia.
Trump has intensified his rhetoric against Zelensky, labeling him a “dictator” and falsely claiming that Ukraine “started” the war. He also dismissed Zelensky’s domestic popularity, despite independent polls suggesting otherwise.
Zelensky, however, brushed off Trump’s remarks. “One would be offended by the word ‘dictator’ if he were a dictator,” he told reporters, adding that he was prepared to stand for election once martial law ends. “I very much want to find an understanding with Trump,” he said, emphasizing the importance of U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine.
U.S.-Ukraine Relations and Strategic Interests
Zelensky reiterated his desire to meet Trump before any potential U.S.-Russia summit. He also mentioned progress in negotiations for the U.S. to receive preferential access to Ukraine’s critical resources.
Meanwhile, in Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the renewed dialogue between Trump and Putin, describing them as two “extraordinary” leaders. “It is important that nothing obstructs the political will of both heads of state,” Peskov said on Russian state television.
Despite diplomatic maneuvers, the prospect of a peace deal remains uncertain. Moscow has ruled out territorial concessions, and Russia continues to reject the idea of Ukraine joining NATO. “The people decided to join Russia a long time ago,” Peskov claimed, referring to controversial and widely condemned referendums in occupied eastern Ukraine.
War and Diplomacy
UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a peace agreement that respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Meanwhile, Putin, in remarks to Russian soldiers, framed the war as a divine mission. “Fate willed it so, God willed it so,” he said.
Russia continues its military offensive, launching a record 267 drone strikes on Ukraine overnight, though Kyiv’s air force intercepted nearly all of them. As Moscow advances on the battlefield, it has also capitalized on the political discord between Trump and Zelensky. “Zelensky repeatedly makes inappropriate remarks toward the head of state,” Peskov said. “No president would tolerate that kind of treatment.”
Looking ahead, diplomatic efforts to support Ukraine are intensifying. French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are set to visit Washington to advocate for continued assistance to Kyiv. Additionally, European Council President António Costa has announced a special EU summit on March 6 to address the Ukraine conflict. “We are living a defining moment for Ukraine and European security,” Costa wrote on X.