Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed his willingness to give up his presidency in exchange for Ukraine’s NATO membership, as the nation approaches the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“If you need me to leave this chair, I am ready to do that. And I also can exchange it for NATO membership for Ukraine,” Zelensky stated during a press conference.
His comments come after former U.S. President Donald Trump labeled him a “dictator without elections” last week. Responding calmly, Zelensky said, “I wasn’t offended by the comment, but a dictator would be,” emphasizing his democratic election in May 2019.
With martial law in place since February 2022, Ukraine remains unable to hold elections, a point of contention as global leaders prepare to meet in Kyiv today to discuss security guarantees and Ukraine’s NATO ambitions. Attendees include Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, European Council President Antonio Costa, and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Zelensky hopes the summit will be a “turning point” for Ukraine’s NATO bid but remains uncertain about the outcome. He also addressed relations with the U.S., expressing his desire for the American president to act as more than just a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow.
“I really want it to be more than just mediation… that’s not enough,” he said, amid growing concerns in Europe that Ukraine is being sidelined in peace negotiations.
Zelensky also confirmed progress on a potential deal granting the U.S. access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals, stating, “We are ready to share,” but insisted that any agreement must come after Russian President Vladimir Putin ends the war.
His remarks followed Russia’s largest drone attack on Ukraine to date. Ukrainian officials reported that 267 drones targeted 13 regions on Saturday night, resulting in widespread destruction and at least three casualties. Ukraine’s Air Force managed to shoot down 138 drones, while 119 decoy drones were neutralized by jamming.
First Lady Olena Zelenska shared the devastation on X (formerly Twitter), writing, “It was another night of explosions, burning houses and cars, and destroyed infrastructure… another night when people prayed for their loved ones to survive.”
Zelensky reiterated his call for stronger support from Europe and the U.S., urging for a “lasting and just peace” as Ukraine continues to battle relentless Russian aggression.
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