VOLODYMYR Zelensky has offered to step down as Ukraine’s president in exchange for peace or getting his country a Nato membership.
The shocking remark comes as Donald Trump and Russia hold peace talks without Kyiv at the table.
The president of Ukraine stated on Sunday that he is willing to step down from his position if it contributes to achieving peace in Ukraine.
“Secondly I can exchange it for Nato [membership].
“If there is such an opportunity I’ll do it immediately without a long conversation about it.”
He emphasised that Ukraine’s security was his priority, not staying in office, adding that it was not his “dream” to remain president for a decade.
His remarks came after Donald Trump dubbed him a “dictator” for refusing to organise elections, which are banned in Ukraine under martial law.
Reports have emerged that Ukraine may be forced to hold elections before any final peace agreement with Russia is reached, The Telegraph reports.
Trump, who has often claimed he could resolve the conflict in a day, mentioned that the call for elections was his idea and seemed to imply that Ukraine was responsible for the delay in reaching an agreement.
“You’ve been there for three years… You should have never started it. You could have made a deal,” Trump said.
PUTIN BLITZ
Zelensky’s shocking comments came as Putin launched Russia’s largest drone attack of the war so far.
According to Ukrainian authorities, an unprecedented number of 267 Russian drones were launched simultaneously in a well-coordinated attack on Sunday, occurring one day before the third anniversary of the conflict.
Yuriy Ignat, Ukraine’s air force spokesman, said 138 drones were intercepted, while 119 disappeared after being jammed.
Despite Ukraine’s air defences, drone strikes caused fires and destruction across the country.
Zelensky described it as “aerial terror”, saying Russia had attacked Ukraine with 1,150 drones in the past week alone.
He warned that the latest assault underscored the urgent need for a “lasting and just peace”, which he said could only come with the “strength of all of Europe and America”.
TRUMP’S PUSH FOR PEACE
The latest escalation came on the eve of the war’s third anniversary and as the White House suggested a peace deal could be reached “this week”.
Trump’s press secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president was “very confident” that negotiations with both sides would end the war soon.
“The president, his team are very much focused on continuing negotiations… and the president is very confident we can get it done this week,” she said.
But tensions between Washington and Kyiv have been rising after Zelensky reportedly refused to sign an agreement that would hand over $500 billion worth of critical minerals and rare earths to the US.
The White House had initially claimed a deal was “close”, but Ukrainian sources suggested the current draft was not ready to be signed.
Meanwhile, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has cast doubt on Ukraine joining NATO as part of any peace settlement, a key condition for Zelensky stepping down.
Zelensky said an “important meeting” of world leaders would take place on Monday, the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion.
He hinted that major decisions could emerge from the summit, which will include 13 nations attending in person and 24 joining online.
“Tomorrow’s summit is crucial. It might even be a turning point—we’ll see,” he said.
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