Zelenskyy Willing to Step Down for NATO Membership Amidst Trump’s Ukraine Policy Shift
In a stark declaration, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has expressed his willingness to relinquish his presidency if it facilitates Ukraine’s accession to NATO and secures peace for his war-ravaged nation.
"If it means peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready," Zelenskyy declared at a press conference on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion. "I can exchange this for NATO (membership), if that condition is there, immediately."
However, Ukraine’s membership in NATO, already improbable in the short term, appears even more elusive since the Trump administration’s drastic shift in its approach towards supporting Ukraine’s defense against Russia’s invasion and occupation.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has asserted that NATO membership is not a realistic element of a negotiated settlement to the conflict. Subsequently, President Trump has engaged in discussions with Russian President Vladimir Putin and dispatched a team to negotiate with Russian counterparts in Saudi Arabia for an end to the war, excluding Ukraine and its European allies from the discussions.
Zelenskyy has vehemently rejected a proposal from the Trump administration that would grant the United States control over Ukraine’s mineral reserves in exchange for continued U.S. support. He denounced the deal as requiring Ukraine to reimburse aid provided for its defense against Russian aggression, a condition he unequivocally rejects.
Moreover, the $500 billion figure cited by Trump as the total amount of aid provided to Ukraine throughout the conflict is grossly inflated, according to Zelenskyy. The actual amount is less than one-fifth of the stated figure.
Zelenskyy contends that the deal is only viable if the U.S. deploys its troops to Ukraine as a security guarantee.
Despite Zelenskyy’s unequivocal criticism of the deal, Trump’s representatives maintain that it will be finalized this week.
"Although Zelenskyy’s commitment to the deal was uncertain a week ago, the president sent the message to him. He’s not wavering anymore," Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, told CNN’s "State of the Union" on Sunday. "I think you’ll see it signed this week."
Witkoff controversially suggested that the war was "provoked," albeit not necessarily by Russia, the invading nation. "There were all kinds of conversations back then about Ukraine joining NATO. That didn’t need to happen. It basically became a threat to the Russians," he argued.
Relations between Trump and Zelenskyy deteriorated significantly last week, with Trump labeling Zelenskyy a "dictator" and advocating for Ukraine to hold elections, which Ukraine has postponed due to the ongoing conflict with Russia.
When asked if Putin deserved the same designation, Trump evaded the question.
