Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is willing to give up his position if it means peace in Ukraine. Mr Zelenksy added that he was prepared to step down if it meant Ukraine could enter NATO during a press conference in Kyiv on Sunday. In a wide-ranging exchange with reporters, the Ukrainian president explained that he was not planning to hold power for decades to come but insisted that he would not allow Russian president Vladimir Putin to have control over his country.
It comes after tensions have been high between Kyiv and Washington after US president Donald Trump labelled Mr Zelensky as a “dictator” on social media. In response, the Ukrainian president then claimed his US counterpart was living in a Russian “disinformation space”.
But the Ukrainian president told reporters that there was no opportunity for emotions three years after Russia invaded Ukraine and explained he must have a pragmatic approach towards relations with America. Zelensky added that talks between Kyiv and Washington about precious minerals in the war-torn country are moving forward but explained a deal with the US could not work if it asked Ukraine to return the value of aid already given by Washington.
He refused to acknowledge that Ukraine owed the US $500 billion for the wartime aid which Washington has provided to Kyiv, a figure often cited by Trump. Zelenskiy said that grants should not be treated as loans. The Ukrainian president added that about $15 billion of previously pledged US military aid was yet to be delivered.
Mr Zelensky insisted he hopes to see Trump as a partner to Ukraine and more than simply a mediator between Kyiv and Moscow. "I really want it to be more than just mediation... that's not enough," he explained. He also told reporters that it would be logical if US troops were deployed in Ukraine if a minerals deal between the countries was treated as a security guarantee.
