Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has stated that he is willing to step down if it guarantees peace for Ukraine or if his resignation is a condition for the country’s NATO membership.
At a press conference on February 23, Zelenskyy made the statement when asked if he would leave office for the sake of peace.
“If peace for Ukraine depends on it, if you really need me to leave my post, then I am ready. The second option—I could trade it for NATO membership if such conditions exist. I’m saying this right away so we don’t waste time discussing it,” he said.
The president emphasized that his focus is on Ukraine’s security “today, not in 20 years,” and that he does not intend to stay in power for decades.
“That is probably my focus and my desired dream,” Zelenskyy said.
Speaking about NATO, he reiterated that joining the alliance would be the most cost-effective way to guarantee Ukraine’s security.
“Regardless of whether someone likes it or not, whether they support this idea or not, this issue is on the table. And it will remain on the table in security negotiations. I don’t know how the talks will end, but in any case, NATO membership will be discussed. We will talk about it with our partners. And it’s crucial to understand that this is not just a negotiation table where Ukraine is being invited—it is our table because the war is happening in Ukraine. We are the ones inviting our European leaders, because this war is in Ukraine, and we are an inseparable part of this continent—Europe, the future European Union,” Zelenskyy stated.
He added that Europe and the US must be involved in peace talks and security guarantees.
“We want to end this war, and our partners want it too. Our partners want Russia to be at the table, and Russia will be there. I truly believe that President Trump wants to help us end this war, but peace through strength means directing that strength toward Russia,” Zelenskyy concluded.
