Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his readiness to step down if it helps achieve peace for Ukraine. During a press conference, answering questions from journalists, Zelensky said that if necessary, he is ready to step down from his position if it becomes a condition for ending the war.
“If peace is for Ukraine, and if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” he said. However, the president clarified that such conditions should include Ukraine’s accession to NATO, which is an important part of the state’s security for him. According to him, NATO is the “cheapest option” for ensuring Ukraine’s security. He also emphasized that the NATO issue will definitely be discussed during international negotiations, although its final outcome is currently unknown.
Zelensky has said he is focused on achieving peace in the near future, not 20 years from now. He does not intend to stay in office for decades, and his primary goal is to ensure Ukraine's security today.
The President also commented on the issue of negotiations to end the war, noting that Ukraine is the initiator of these negotiations, since the war is taking place on its territory. “This is our table, and we invite European leaders,” he stressed, specifying that Ukraine should have a major role in resolving the conflict, since it is on its territory that hostilities are ongoing.
In connection with these statements, US President Donald Trump also expressed his opinion on the war in Ukraine. In particular, he stated that Putin wants peace, but he, according to him, will be able to capture all of Ukraine if the fighting does not stop. Trump has also repeatedly criticized Zelensky, calling him a “dictator without elections” and accusing the Ukrainian leadership of a lack of efforts to end the war.
