Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his willingness to leave office if it guarantees peace for Ukraine and ensures the country’s membership in NATO, as tensions with the United States grow under President Donald Trump’s administration.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday, Zelenskyy made the statement as Ukraine marked three years since Russia launched its full-scale invasion. His remarks come amid escalating Russian attacks and a shifting stance from Washington, which has signaled a different approach to the conflict compared to the previous Biden administration.
“If [it means] peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” Zelenskyy said. “I can exchange this for NATO [membership], if that condition is there, immediately.”
Strained Ukraine-US relations
Zelenskyy’s statement follows criticism from US President Trump, who recently referred to him as a "dictator" and questioned his domestic support. The Ukrainian leader had earlier accused Trump of operating in a “disinformation space” after the US president echoed narratives favored by Moscow regarding the war.
While the Biden administration had extended unwavering support to Ukraine, Trump has sought to renegotiate the terms of US aid, making assistance conditional on Kyiv granting Washington access to its rare earth mineral reserves. The US initially demanded a 50% stake in Ukraine’s mineral resources in exchange for continued support.
Although Kyiv signaled openness to discussions, Zelenskyy firmly rejected Trump’s assertion that Ukraine owed the US $500 billion. He insisted that previous financial assistance was in the form of grants, not loans.
“The question of $500 billion is no longer there,” he said, adding that treating military aid as a debt to be repaid would create a dangerous precedent for Ukraine’s international backers.
Despite tensions, US officials remain optimistic about reaching an agreement. Trump’s envoy, Steve Witkoff, suggested that a deal regarding Ukraine’s mineral wealth was imminent, while US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also expressed hope that negotiations would conclude this week.
Meanwhile, Moscow and Washington have intensified direct talks on ending the war, with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio meeting Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov in Saudi Arabia last week. Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov confirmed that further discussions between the two sides were planned.
Ukraine, however, has been excluded from these negotiations, prompting Zelenskyy to assert that no agreement concerning his country could be reached without Ukrainian representation at the table.
Largest drone attack since war began
As diplomatic maneuvering continues, Ukraine has been grappling with one of the most intense waves of Russian strikes since the war began.
Zelenskyy reported that Russia launched 267 drones against Ukraine overnight—the largest drone assault recorded so far. Over the past week, Russian forces have fired nearly 1,150 attack drones, 1,400 guided aerial bombs, and 35 missiles, he said.
“Every day, our people stand against aerial terror,” Zelenskyy stated, calling on European and US allies to bolster Ukraine’s air defences.
Ukraine’s Air Force spokesman, Yuriy Ignat, said that out of the 267 drones launched, air defence systems intercepted 138, while 119 drones failed to reach their targets. Several regions, including Kyiv, were reportedly hit.
On Saturday, a Russian missile attack on the central town of Kryvyi Rih left one man dead and five others injured, according to local authorities.
“The war continues. Everyone capable of helping with air defence must work to enhance the protection of human life,” Zelenskyy said. “We must do everything possible to bring a lasting and just peace to Ukraine.”
Russia’s full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, but hostilities date back to 2014, when Moscow annexed Crimea and backed separatist movements in eastern Ukraine.
