Ukraine’s Zelenskyy says he would give up presidency in exchange for peace and NATO membership
Washington – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he would be prepared to abandon the president if he did so under the security of the NATO military alliance.
Zelenskyy, at a government official forum for Kiev government officials, marking the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, said: “If peace is to be achieved, you really need me to give up my post, I’m ready. Now.”
Zelenskyy answered a reporter’s question whether he would trade peace for peace, “I can trade for NATO.”
His comments seem to be directed at recent suggestion President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin said that despite Ukrainian legislation banning them from holding elections in martial law.
Ivan Antypenko/supilne Ukraine/JSC “ua:pbc”/Global Images Ukraine by Getty Images
Earlier on Sunday, Zelenskyy said Russia fired 267 strike drones to Ukraine overnight on Saturday, rather than any other war attack.
Ukrainian air force said 138 drones were shot down 13 Ukrainian regions and 119 more were lost on the way to the target.
The Air Force said it also launched three ballistic missiles. According to the city, it was killed in the city of Kryvyi Rih.
The attack took place as leaders in Kiev and Europe across the country seek rapid changes in U.S. foreign policy under Mr. Trump, who in a few days has surpassed years of firm support for Ukraine, leading to concerns He would join Moscow with Moscow without involving Ukraine and its European supporters, forcing the war to resolve.
Mr. Trump’s interaction with Russian officials and his agreement to reopen diplomatic ties and economic cooperation with Moscow marks the drama of U.S. policy.
Zelenskyy expressed concerns that Mr Trump’s proposal of a quick solution would lead to Ukrainian territory losing territory and vulnerability to future Russian aggression, despite U.S. officials asserting that Ukrainian leaders would participate if peace talks actually begin in.
However, Mr. Trump caused alarm and anger in Ukraine when he suggested that the war begin in Kiev this week, and although Ukraine banned them during the war, Zelenskyy did not hold elections to serve as a “dictator.”
Russia’s deputy foreign minister said on Saturday that preparations are being made for the Trump-Putin meeting are further signs that Russian leaders are isolated at least in the Trump administration and are beginning to thaw.
However, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha responded to the latest Russian attack, saying the overnight attack “showed that avoiding calling Russia an invader did not change that that is a fact.”
“No one should believe Putin’s words,” Sybiha said in a statement on social media.
Ukrainian officials discussed a deal on Sunday that would allow the U.S. to access Ukrainian rare earth minerals, a proposal the Trump administration is pushing for, but Zelensky earlier refused to accept it because it lacks specific security assurances .
His chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, proposed at a forum held in Kiev to give up his presidency in exchange for peace and NATO presidency. and extract. ”
Yermak left the forum with Economy Secretary Yuliia Svyrydenko, who said he was negotiating potential deals with the U.S. representative. He said Ukraine’s mineral resources represent “a very important element that can play a role in the general structure of security assurance – military assurance and others”.
Yermak rejected Ukraine’s notion that it rejected the U.S. proposal, but said any agreement “must satisfy Ukraine’s national interests and undoubtedly our partner must be interesting.”
Before leaving the forum, Svyrydenko said that the Ukrainian region currently occupied by Russia has $350 billion worth of minerals. However, the calculation is based in part on geological maps dating back to the 1940s and 1960s, adding: “We have to do geological exploration and confirm our deposits on paper.”
Meanwhile, Putin praised the Russian soldiers fighting in Ukraine for defending “their homeland, national interests and Russia’s future” in a special televised message on Sunday.
Putin used his speech among the defenders of Russia’s Day of Defense of the Motherland to assure greater social support for military personnel and for new weapons and equipment for Russian forces.
“Today, as the world develops, our strategic curriculum on strengthening and developing the armed forces remains unchanged,” he said, adding that Russia will continue to develop its armed forces. and the future. ”
Britain said on Sunday it would announce new Russian sanctions on Monday, the biggest packaging since the early days of the war. Foreign Minister David Lammy said the measures would aim to “erode (Russian) military machines and reduce revenues, thus fueling fires that were damaged by Ukraine.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will make tag visits to Washington this week as Europe tries to convince Mr. Trump not to make a peace deal Give up Ukraine.
“Ukraine cannot be discussed without Ukraine, and the Ukrainian people must have a long-term safe future,” Starmer said at a Labor party gathering in Scotland on Sunday.
