On the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has stated he is willing to step down if it means securing Ukraine’s membership in NATO.
His remarks come amid growing tensions with President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly criticized Zelensky, calling him a “dictator” and falsely claiming that Ukraine “started” the war. Trump’s stance has alarmed Kyiv and European leaders, particularly after U.S. and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia without Ukrainian participation.
Zelensky downplayed Trump’s criticism, saying he would be open to testing his popularity in elections once martial law ends.
“I very much want from Trump an understanding of each other,” he said, adding that security guarantees from the U.S. remain crucial. He also called for a meeting with Trump before any potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin welcomed renewed dialogue between Trump and Putin, calling them “two extraordinary presidents” and suggesting that the talks could lead to progress in negotiations. However, Moscow remains firm in rejecting NATO membership for Ukraine and has ruled out any territorial concessions in a peace deal.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called for a settlement that respects Ukraine’s territorial integrity, but whether current U.S. efforts will bring Kyiv and Moscow closer to peace remains uncertain.
