Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said on Sunday that he is ready to leave his post if it will help his country get security guarantees or secure its place in NATO.
Volodymyr Zelensky said at a news conference:
“If [it means] peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready.”
Zelensky’s term in office expired on May 20, 2024. Last year, presidential elections in Ukraine were cancelled, citing martial law and general mobilisation. The head of state himself called them “untimely” at the time. At the same time, Russian President Vladimir Putin stressed that the parliament and the speaker of the Rada remained the only legitimate authorities in Ukraine, as martial law did not mean that the results of the presidential election would be prolonged. During the press conference, Zelensky promised that the election would be held after martial law is lifted.
Zelensky emphasised that he is “not going to be in power for decades” and is focusing on the country’s security “today, not in 20 years.” According to him, he believes that US President Donald Trump will help to end hostilities. At the same time, Zelensky would like Washington “to be on the side” of Kyiv so that “this is not just a mediation.”
The Ukrainian leader said that Washington aims to end the “hot phase” of the conflict in 2025 – while insisting on a ceasefire without security guarantees for Ukraine, which Kyiv does not agree with. According to Zelensky, Ukraine as a guarantee requires admission to the European Union, US funding of the Ukrainian army in the amount of 800,000 military personnel and deployment of a foreign contingent on its territory. Zelensky also noted that he wants “the agreement with the United States to be without scandals.” At the same time, he emphasised that “Trump is not forever, but peace is needed for many years.”
Zelensky added that on February 24 in Kyiv will be held a summit with the participation of European leaders, which may be a “turning point.” At the same time, according to the Ukrainian President, a personal meeting with Trump is necessary to resolve the conflict. He said:
“This week to complete this war with guarantees of security for Ukraine is impossible.”
The Ukrainian leader also said that in his opinion, peace talks should involve Ukraine, Europe, the United States and Russia.
US aid is a grant, not debt, Zelensky says
Zelensky said he did not recognise the sum demanded by the White House as apparent “payback” for previous US military assistance.
He said the figure was far higher than the US’s actual military contribution of $100bn, and pointed out that both parties in the US Congress and the then president Joe Biden had approved the support in the wake of war. It came as a “grant” rather than as “debt” that had to be repaid.
The Ukrainian politician also assured that he would not sign something that “will be paid by 10 generations of Ukrainians” – this is how he commented on the proposed US agreement on rare earth metals.
In addition, Zelensky called the frozen Russian assets “Ukrainian money.” He noted:
“Exactly our money, not our money with our partners. We will somehow live with the US”
Zelensky also reacted to Trump calling him a “dictator.” He noted that he would take offence at the US leader “if he really was a dictator,” but in this situation “these are just words.”
The Ukrainian president recalled that he is the legally elected leader of the country, who received 73 per cent of the vote in the election.
“I would not call these words in my address a compliment, but for what to take offence …. Let’s live with the United States somehow,” he said, adding that it is important to him what the citizens of his country think about him.
Now, according to Zelensky, his rating is 65 per cent – Trump previously said that only 4 per cent of the country’s residents support the Ukrainian president. Zelensky called this data “a signal spread by the Russians.”
“That’s why I’m talking about direct dialogue with me and Trump. 4% and real 65% today’s trust figures – this is a serious difference,” he said.
At the same time, earlier Zelensky referred to the results of the survey of the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS), according to the results of which the rating of confidence in him reaches 57%. The level of support of 65 per cent was already afterwards shown by the research of the “Rating” group.
Deal development prerequisites
US President Donald Trump has announced the imminent conclusion of a deal on the transfer of Ukraine’s mineral resources to Washington as compensation for US aid to Ukraine.
Speaking at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) on Saturday, Donald Trump made a new statement about Kyiv’s need to repay multi-billion dollar US aid to Ukraine. Trump told the event in Maryland:
“We’re going to get our money back because it’s not fair. And we will see, but I think we’re pretty close to a deal. We better be close to a deal.”
President Trump’s statement was made after the parties failed to sign an agreement to transfer control over Ukraine’s minerals to the United States last Saturday, contrary to leaks in the leading US media.
Earlier, The New York Times reported that the terms of the new Ukrainian minerals agreement proposed by Washington included Ukraine’s refusal not only to give up half of its revenues from natural resources, but also revenues from ports and other infrastructure.
The new draft deal also includes provisions on revenues from territories that became part of Russia, with the notation “in case of their liberation.” And the US share of revenues derived from resources from these territories will be 66 per cent. The new document says that the revenues received under the deal will be channelled into a special fund in which the United States holds a 100 per cent financial stake. Ukraine will have to contribute to this fund until it reaches $500bn.
