KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned he would step down if it meant peace for his nation, including he would additionally accomplish that if it meant Ukraine can be granted NATO membership.
Zelenskyy made the feedback on Sunday in response to a query from ABC Information Chief Overseas Correspondent Ian Pannell throughout a press convention in Kyiv, a day earlier than the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“If for peace for Ukraine, it is really obligatory for you that I go away my publish, I’m prepared,” Zelenskyy replied to Pannell asking if he was ready to step down it if may assist peace. “We will trade it for NATO membership. If these are the phrases, then let’s do it directly. I am targeted on Ukraine’s safety right now, not In 20 years, and I’ve no intention of staying in energy for a decade. That is my focus and my best aspiration.”
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy solutions media questions throughout his press convention, in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Feb. 23, 2025.
Evgeniy Maloletka/AP
Zelenskyy’s remarks come after President Donald Trump accused him of being a “dictator with out elections” and introduced him as an impediment to ending the conflict in Ukraine, saying final week after U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia that Zelenskyy “higher transfer quick or he is not going to have a rustic left.”
Trump has triggered a public breakdown in relations with Zelenskyy previously week, as he has shifted to falsely blaming Ukraine for the conflict (Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022) and restoring U.S. relations with Russia. Notably, the talks in Saudia Arabia final week didn’t embody Ukraine.
The Trump administration can be placing strain on Zelenskyy, demanding he signal a deal that might have Ukraine pay the USA $500 billion by means of a fund, financed by taking 50% of the income of Ukraine’s pure sources — together with minerals, oil and fuel — as effectively ports and different infrastructure. Trump has introduced the deal as again pay for the help the U.S. has already supplied to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has thus far refused to signal an settlement as a result of it presents no ensures and since he says the quantity demanded by Trump is 5 occasions greater than what the U.S. has given since 2022. (The Kiel Institute for the World Financial system, based mostly in Germany, estimates that the U.S. has dedicated about $119 billion in support for Ukraine since Russia’s invasion in 2022. This determine combines army, monetary and humanitarian help.)
On the press convention on Sunday, Zelenskyy mentioned he was not keen to conform to pay $500 billion, saying Ukraine has acquired $100 billion in support from the U.S. Zelenskyy additionally criticized the phrases, noting the draft deal would see Ukraine pay again $2 for each greenback given to it.
“I simply desire a dialogue with President Trump. I feel that is honest. I am not signing off on one thing that future Ukrainian generations must pay again for the following 10 generations,” he mentioned.
A senior Ukrainian official instructed ABC Information on Saturday that Ukraine had proposed paying again $100 billion to the U.S. However Zelenskyy on Sunday mentioned he was uncomfortable with that, noting the cash had been given to Ukraine as a grant accredited by way of bipartisan settlement in Congress — not as a mortgage to be paid again with curiosity.
Zelenskyy mentioned his chief of workers, Andriy Yermak, was at present negotiating once more with the Trump administration, together with Nationwide Safety Adviser Mike Waltz, and that the $500 billion determine was not being mentioned within the talks. “We’re making progress,” he mentioned Sunday.
Zelenskyy additionally repeated that he believes NATO membership for Ukraine continues to be probably the most “cost-effective” resolution for Ukraine’s safety, insisting the nation will need to have safety ensures for any peace deal to be acceptable and sturdy.
Trump officers on Sunday have been pressuring Ukraine to withdraw an annual United Nations draft decision that condemns Russia’s 2022 invasion, and to exchange it with a U.S.-sponsored assertion that does not assign accountability for the conflict, in line with Ukrainian officers. Ukraine has thus far refused to withdraw the decision.
To date Trump, in pushing for an finish to the conflict, has directed strain solely at Ukraine, demanding it make concessions whereas seeming to demand little of Russia besides that it cease combating.
“What do I need from Donald Trump? I imagine that if we belief in what he says, it is the identical factor: a swift finish to the conflict. On this level, we totally agree. I actually imagine he desires this and can assist us obtain it,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
“However ‘peace by means of energy’ means focusing that energy towards Russia. This, I feel, is the essence of the phrase. I need him on our facet — I do not assume easy mediation is sufficient. We want safety ensures from the USA,” Zelenskyy mentioned, additionally expressing gratitude for bipartisan assist for Ukraine in Congress.
Zelenskyy emphasised that Ukraine wants long-lasting safety, saying even when Trump can deter Putin now, he is not going to all the time be there. “He [Trump] isn’t without end, and we’d like peace for a lot of, a few years,” Zelenskyy mentioned.
ABC Information’ David Brennan contributed to this report.
