Ukraine president willing to exchange his presidency for peace

KYIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is willing to exchange his presidency for peace in his nation. He expressed a desire to make the country part of NATO. 

CNN reported Zelenskyy said he’d be willing to quit during a press conference. The news comes just one day before the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. 

Zelenskyy also said he is focused on his country’s current security, per NBC. 

Trump jabs at Zelenskyy, refers to him as a “dictator” 

According to NewsNation, Zelenskyy’s comment followed criticism from U.S. President Donald Trump, who referred to him as a “dictator without elections.” The Ukrainian president’s term technically ended in May 2024, however, the country’s constitution forbids national elections during martial law. 

Zelenskyy declared martial law after Russia invaded. 

In response to Trump’s comment, Zelenskyy said he didn’t regard the American president’s comment as a compliment. 

This was Zelenskyy’s full statement, as published by NewsNation: 

““I certainly would not describe the words Trump used as a compliment. One would be offended by the word dictator if he was a dictator. I’m not. I’m the legally elected president.”

Per BBC, Zelenskyy also said he does not want “to remain president of Ukraine for a decade.” 

Trump’s criticism of Zelenskyy was not the first slam. CNN recently reported that he incorrectly blamed the Ukrainian president for starting the war with Russia. In response, Zelenskyy said Trump is in a “disinformation space.”

Who takes power if Zelenskyy resigns? 

A 2022 Business Insider article explained that Ukraine’s constitution places succession power with the chair of Ukraine’s Parliament. In the country, parliament is referred to as Verkhovna Rada. 

Verkhovna Rada’s website names the chairperson as Stefanchuk Ruslan Oleksiiovych, who was elected in 2021. 

Per the Ukrainian Constitution, Oleksiiovych would fill Zelenskyy’s role if the current president died or resigned. The chairperson would only serve until a new president could be elected. 

The constitution is unclear on who would follow Oleksiiovych in the line of power. 

Ukraine’s NATO prospects

BBC reported that a group of world leaders are slated to meet in Kyiv on Monday. They are expected to show support for Ukraine and “discuss security guarantees.” 

According to Zelenskyy, joining NATO is “on the table” for the meeting, but he doesn’t know how they will go. His Sunday statement expressed willingness to exchange his presidency for the nation’s admission into the European and North American military alliance.

Currently, there are 32 member countries.  

NewsNation said Trump’s Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth referred to Ukraine’s prospects of joining NATO as “unrealistic.” 

If Ukraine is unable to join the alliance, Zelenskyy has previously said the size of the country’s army needs to double, as reported by CNN. 

Ukraine war updates

Overnight, Russia unleashed the largest drone attack of the war. CNN reported that at least one person was killed. They quoted Zelenskyy, who said it was the largest attack since Iran’s. 

As the war rages on, Zelenskyy also said a Trump administration proposal for Ukraine to compensate the U.S. with $500 billion in rare earth minerals profits is off the table. Associated Press reported that Zelenskyy said a “more equitable” deal is being worked on. 

Per AP, French and British leaders are set to visit Washington, D.C. this week. They are working to convince Trump to keep supporting Ukraine. Meanwhile, a Russian official said Trump and Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin are preparing for a meeting of their own. 

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