Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has offered to give up his position in exchange for peace and membership in NATO as his country was hit by what he called the largest Russian drone attack it has faced since the war began.Zelenskyy made the offer in a news conference in Kyiv on Sunday as the rift widens between himself and the new government in the United States, led by President Donald Trump, on the eve of the three-year anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s full-scale war on Ukraine.
“If [it means] peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” Zelenskyy said. “I can exchange this for NATO [membership], if that condition is there, immediately.”
In a sharp change from the previous US administration of President Joe Biden, which strongly backed Zelenskyy and Ukraine, Trump has increasingly attacked the Ukrainian president since taking office last month. Last week, Trump called Zelenskyy a “dictator” who had little support from Ukrainians. He made those comments after the Ukrainian leader had said Trump was operating in a “disinformation space” after the US president expressed views held by Russia on the war. Advertisement
But Zelenskyy said on Sunday that he wanted the US president to be a partner rather than just a mediator.
“I really want it to be more than just mediation. … That’s not enough,” Zelenskyy said, adding that he wanted to meet Trump before any meeting between the US leader and Russian President …
