(Zero Hedge)—Speaking at the “Ukraine: The Year 2025” forum on Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told an audience of all heads of ministries, agencies, and top officials that he’s ready to resign as president if it brings peace. He suggested the country be guaranteed NATO membership in exchange for his stepping down.
“I am ready to leave my post if it brings peace. Or exchange it for NATO,” Zelensky said in response to journalists’ questions, and at a moment he’s feeling immense pressure from US President Donald Trump. Ukraine regional media Kyiv Post was among the first to report the resignation comments.
The same statement was also translated in Russian state media as follows: “If peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, then I’m ready. I can exchange this for NATO, if there are such conditions. I am focusing on the security of Ukraine today, not in 20 years, and I do not intend to be in power for decades,” Zelensky said. He still asserted that martial law has to be lifted before their can be national elections, according to Ukraine’s constitution.
This comes after a week of an open spat with the White House, wherein Trump called Zelensky a ‘dictator’ for refusing to hold democratic elections and for criticizing US efforts at achieving peace with Moscow. Kiev complains it’s been cut out of US-Russia engagement, while Trump has pointed out the Ukrainians and Europeans had three years in which they rebuffed peace openings at every turn.
Zelensky briefly addressed this tit-for-tat at the forum, saying he is not offended by Trump calling him a dictator as he’s not a dictator, according to the remarks.
Zelensky tries to brush off Trump calling him a ‘dictator’: “Only a dictator would be offended by the word dictator.”
Zelensky tries to brush off Trump calling him a ‘dictator’
‘Only a dictator would be offended by the word dictator’
He assures crowd he has no intention of staying in office forever… https://t.co/znreGJKn4f pic.twitter.com/yh51G19Jxn
— RT (@RT_com) February 23, 2025
According to Ukraine media sources, Zelensky on Sunday “also announced an important international summit on the Russo-Ukrainian war scheduled for Monday, Feb 24. Leaders from 13 partner countries will attend in person, while 24 others will join online. Zelensky hinted that major decisions could come from the meeting.”
“Tomorrow’s summit is crucial. It might even be a turning point – we’ll see,” he said. Zelensky in the comments affirmed that previously approved military aid continued to flow, but that Ukraine still needs 20 Patriot air defense systems.
He explained his government needs to sign agreement that will be ‘win-win’ for both US and Ukraine, ‘pleasant’ for both parties. But so far the haggling over mineral rights has been anything but pleasant.
❗️Zelensky READY TO STEP DOWN for peace in Ukraine
Says he’d do it in exchange for NATO membership pic.twitter.com/Afs1pmjoBM
— RT (@RT_com) February 23, 2025
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha addressed the same forum and said the following, “We are convinced that in this third year of brutal Russian aggression, we truly have a chance. We are telling many partners that perhaps now is the time to fasten diplomatic seat belts. We must not give in to emotions.”
There have been weekend reports that the two sides are close to achieving a mineral deal. However, the US side has stuck by some demands that Zelensky and his officials previously rejected as not doable.
“Ukraine on Saturday was seriously considering a revised American proposal for its vast natural resources that contains virtually the same provisions that Kyiv previously rejected as too onerous, according to Ukrainian officials and a draft of the deal,” The New York Times reports.
Let me break it down to you. The U.S. deal for Ukraine, a strategic ally
1. Ukraine pays 50% of its oil, gas, and mineral revenues to the US (fund)
2. until the fund reaches 500 billion
3. The U.S. 100% owns the fund
The remaining 2 conditions are the best 1/ https://t.co/CaNvBBcISG
— Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) February 22, 2025
“In fact, some of the terms appear even tougher than in a previous draft,” the report emphasizes. “The latest proposal comes after a week in which President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine resisted signing the earlier version in a public dispute with President Trump.”
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Whoever was controlling USA pollicy during the time oBiden was called president, that pressed for NATO membership is what started the war.
Does anyone remember the Cuban Missile Crisis o the 60s?
Yep…I was probably in elementary school, but I remember it. Nuclear war meant sure death. The nation was terrified.
There were not enough nukes in Cuba to do any such thing….the only sure thing is everyone dies.
The war had NOTHING to do with NATO and everything to do with one criminal expansi0nist dictator living in Moscow who does not respect boundaries, treaties or other country’s sovereignty. I remember the Cuban Missile Crisis and it had NOTHING to do with missiles in Turkey which were already scheduled to be removed, that was a face saving measure by Krushchev.
BS
Pres. Clinton told Ukraine to give up their nuclear weapons, and they did. Never trust a Democrat!
Resign? Hey JACK-*** your term expired last year! You are a dictator!
Zelensky knows that Ukraine joining NATO is a non-starter so his offer to step down in exchange for NATO membership for Ukraine is empty, and just an excuse for him to continue destroying the country while he enriches himself. He’s going to end up like Nicolae Ceausescu (if we’re lucky).
To understand the absurdity of Zelensky’s offer by analogy, assume the CCP started signing up a league of socialist nations to fight NATO countries. They signed up Brazil, then Argentina, then eventually all of South America. With the US warning them not to come any further, they sign up Cuba, Belize, and Guatamala anyway, but promise no border countries. Then Mexico wants to join and the CCP says OK.
That would mean the force of all the CCP enemy nations could be stationed at America’s doorstep. But the CCP’s real purpose was to promote a proxy war in Mexico, so even if they didn’t win, the war would weaken America’s economy, military, and weaponry. America would have no choice but to attack for their own national security…and push back the CCP League of Nations. But then, AMERICA, who actually responded to a situational attack threatening its national security, would be blamed as the invader because it responded with a physical resistance. That’s how messed up this is.
And that’s how ridiculous Zelensky is for offering to step down if only he gets what Russia was willing to go to war to stop in the first place. What a feckless moron. AND BTW…if Zelensky were so magnanimous as to be willing to step down for peace in exchange for letting Ukraine join NATO, why didn’t he make that offer in the beginning? Putin would have still said no, but it’s shows it’s not a serious offer. It’s saying, “After I am enriched from gorging myself on wealth from the blood of 500,000 Ukranians, I will step down (as if Russia cares), in exchange for giving me what you went to war to prevent. My…what a “martyr.”
May I add to your analogy… first, Mexico elects a government friendly to the U.S. but China provokes and finances the overthrow of that government. Then the new government signs an accord to guarantee language and other rights to ethnic Americans living there, but instead violates those rights and even instigates violence against them. With this and all you have outlined above, would America say, “Oh well, I guess that’s how it goes.” No way! So why would Putin roll over under exactly the same circumstances?
It’s only a non-starter for people with preconditions…good way always to start a negotiated settlement. EVERYTHING is on the table here like it or not. NATO membership is the closest thing to a guarantee for Ukraine to keep the peace because there is no piece of paper under God’s sun that Putin feels bound to adhere to after the ink has dried. I doubt Zelensky with his 63% favorable rating among the Ukrainian people is going to Ceasusescu’d anytime soon fool.
The prospect of NATO membership is one of the reasons Putin invaded. It’s not going to happen.
Let’s see, he’s demolished the country, gotten all the healthy young men killed or injured, cancelled elections, censored all media, closed down the churches, installed martial law, and “misplaced” about $100 billion. Yeah, I’m sure the (remaining) Ukrainian people are just loving their little dictator.
So he just made peace impossible.
Here’s Russia’s counter offer.
1. No NATO. Ever.
2. No war-conquered land returned…we won it, we’re keeping it… “spoils” of war are a bitch, baby.
3. We don’t care whether you step down or not…you were nothing but a Biden puppet running his money laundering scheme by which too enriched yourself. Nobody gives a tinker’s dam what you do…except holding an election is a condition of ANY MORE U.S. ASSISTANCE. The choice isn’t you’ll stay in power or have NATO, the choice is you’ll continue this war on Ukraine’s depleted resources alone OR you will hold elections or get assassinated.
4. If you don’t understand, rinse/repeat.
The dick is still dictating!
Dear Z-Boy…you are already DONE, because…
1. You, NATO, and the corrupt US politicians created a money-laundering scheme to provoke war with an enemy you could not (from the get-go) hope to defeat.
2. You threw your nation into crisis and debt to fund that war; and because you had no resources for war, you were dependent on another nations for funds and weapons. And even at full “donations” from others, your resources were inadequate.
3. You were too belligerent, ignorant, and arrogant to know when to quit. So while you went around with your hand out wanting more, more, more and delaying peace, you not only lost large territories of Ukraine to Russia, you destroyed the nation’s buildings, infrastructure, economy, and a generation of young Ukranian men. It wasn’t for nothing…you did at least greedily enriched yourself beyond belief.
4. In light of 1-3 above, YOU ARE A FOOL TO BELIEVE YOU ARE ENTITLED TO A WIN/WIN…WAR IS A WIN/LOSE proposition…and BOY, did you lose.
So now is not the time to act like a gambler insisting on staying in the game, having already lost all your chips, having no money to buy more, and having used up all your “house credit.” Can you spell D-O-N-E (because spelling DEFEATED might be a challenge for a moron like you).
Bottom line is this: Your stepping down offer is not a bargaining chip…it’s inevitable. You’ll be lucky if your people don’t have you assassinated…and you deserve that much after what you have done to your nation. The blood of 500,000 young men is on your hands. Likewise, getting lost territory back is also NOT a bargaining chip. Russia didn’t lose thousands of soldiers and spend billions to protect Russia’s national security just to gain nothing. Ever heard of “the SPOILS of war?” Donbass and other territories now belong to Russia. Your government mistreated the Russian-speaking people in those regions and they don’t want to be part of your feckless government anymore anyway.
Here’s your new reality…the US has shut its wallet, weapons, and food will toward Ukraine. Your attitude and inability to account for the billions you borrowed has soured Americans on you. Even your fellow butt buddies—Trudeau, Macron, Starmer—aren’t going to pick up America’s slack. Read Russia’s lips…NO NATO. And tou’re still going to step down or be taken out…one way or the other. You are a flaming joke.
Great input!
Soooo…the thing Russia entered the war to keep from happening (joining NATO) in the first place, Z-Boy thinks Russia will suddenly agree to, if only the moronic leader would just step down. Seriously…Zelensky is laughable.
The BOZOs (Biden, Obama, Zelensky, and Operatives) created a money-laundering scheme by provoking a war with Russia over the threat of Ukraine joining NATO, when NATO itself had previously agreed to not allow it. To understand the seriousness, NATO is a collection of nations in league with each other to fight against those nations not in NATO (including Russia). Russia repeatedly warned NATO it could not keep coming East, but in spite of agreements not to, NATO kept taking on nations closer and closer to Russia. Trying to take in a border country threatened Russia’s national security…and Russia rightly said, “no more.”
From the beginning, Russia was not the aggressor in this war, and anybody who looked at the facts would NEVER have supported Ukraine…which happened to be the most corrupt government in the world anyway. As to joining NATO if ZBoy steps down…read Putin’s lips, “NO MEANS NO.”
NO NATO
Who does he think he is?
Historically, in dictatorships like these, there are always assassins hidden in close proximity to the foolish person who is lying while pretending to be the leader of said dictatorship… Lying to the world is considered to be a serious weakness of the dictator and threats against his life will only increase
I don’t think he has long to live…
So the price of getting this little dingus to resign is to agree to the very thing that goaded Russia into invading. He’s not a man, he’s a cloaca.
Putin did not start this war…..Zelensky did, by refusing to honor the Minsk agreement to let the Ukranian people vote to let Russia use the Donbas ports, and let them return Russian land that was never the Ukranians to take. While Putin is a thug, the Ukraine is the most crooked country in the world. This war has also been fueled by the Neocons in the US to distract people from all the financial problems.
Zelensky has a $30,000,000 million dollar estate in Miami, and when he resigns, we will get the little high-heeled dancing boy here in the states, unfortunately!
I’ll disagree on one point, that Putin is “a thug.” That’s the way he’s been portrayed in western media for years, but after all the other lies they’ve told us, why should we believe this particular narrative? I don’t know any different, but if the mainstream media says something is true, it’s probably false.
well, that, and he doesn’t want to have to give up all of our taxpayer money that the fool old Biden gave him…. no gunna happen zel baby…
“I’ll resign if you let me trigger World War III.”