Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that he was “ready” to resign as leader if it meant it would bring to his country, suggesting he could swap it for NATO membership – while also pushing back against US demands for Ukraine’s critical minerals and other natural resources as part of negotiations to end the war.
Facing mounting criticism from the new US administration, Zelensky expressed a desire to meet with former President Donald Trump before he holds talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky has long called for NATO membership as a key condition for any peace deal, but the alliance, led by the US, has hesitated to make such a commitment. In a Kyiv news conference, Zelensky stated, “If there is peace for Ukraine, and if you truly need me to leave my post, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO.”
The war of words between Zelensky and Trump intensified following high-level talks between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia last week, which marked the first such meeting in three years.
The talks, which bypassed Ukrainian and European leaders, sparked outrage, as they undermined the West’s policy of isolating Moscow.
In recent verbal attacks, Trump called Zelensky a “dictator” and falsely claimed Ukraine “started” the war. He also asserted that Zelensky was unpopular in Ukraine, despite contrary independent polls.
Zelensky, however, responded that he was not “offended” by the accusations, noting that anyone who was truly a dictator would be sensitive to such remarks. He added that he was prepared to face the Ukrainian electorate once martial law ends.
“I very much want from Trump an understanding of each other,” Zelensky continued, stressing the importance of “security guarantees” from the US president. The Ukrainian leader also reiterated his request for a meeting with Trump before any summit with Putin.
He hinted at progress on a deal that would provide the US preferential access to Ukraine’s vital resources.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin praised the dialogue between Trump and Putin, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov describing the two leaders as “extraordinary presidents.” He emphasized that nothing should hinder the realization of their political will.
However, despite Zelensky’s push for long-term security assistance and Trump’s rhetoric about a peace deal, it remains uncertain whether US actions could bring Moscow and Kyiv closer to a ceasefire.
Peskov rejected any possibility of territorial concessions in a peace agreement, reiterating Russia’s stance that Ukrainian territories occupied by Russian forces have “long ago” chosen to join Russia, referring to controversial votes held in eastern Ukraine, dismissed as fraudulent by Kyiv, the West, and international observers.
On the same day, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a peace deal that respects Ukraine’s “territorial integrity.”
As the conflict rages on, Russian President Vladimir Putin marked the anniversary of his “special military operation” by framing it as a divine mission. “God willed it so,” he stated, addressing Russian servicemen, “a mission as difficult as it is honorable—defending Russia.”
Amid continued Russian assaults, including a record 267 attack drones launched against Ukraine overnight, Kyiv’s air force intercepted or shot down nearly all of them, with no major damage reported.
While Russia celebrates the diplomatic fallout between Trump and Zelensky, Kremlin spokesman Peskov criticized Zelensky for his repeated “inappropriate remarks” directed at Trump. “No president would tolerate that kind of treatment,” Peskov argued, justifying Trump’s reaction.
Tensions between the US and Russia continue, with reports indicating that US and Russian diplomats are set to meet next week.
Meanwhile, French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer are scheduled to visit Washington to advocate for continued support for Ukraine.
In Brussels, European Council President Antonio Costa announced a special European summit on the Ukraine war, set for March 6, calling it a defining moment for Ukraine and European security.
