Unlock the White House Watch newsletter for free
Your guide to what the 2024 US election means for Washington and the world
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is willing to step down as Ukraine’s president if it would secure lasting peace for his country.
“If it brings peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I’m ready. I can exchange it for Nato [membership],” Zelenskyy told reporters at a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday. “If such conditions exist [I will step down] immediately.”
Speaking ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-blown invasion of Ukraine on Monday, Zelenskyy also said he wanted US President Donald Trump to be a close partner to Ukraine and not just a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow.
US and Russia officials last week agreed during their first high-level talks in Riyadh to “lay the groundwork for future co-operation” on ending the war and a normalisation of relations.
“I really want it to be more than just mediation [from Trump] . . . that’s not enough,” Zelenskyy said.
This is a developing story
