KIEV (Kashmir English): Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskiy Sunday said he was willing to leave his post if it meant peace in Ukraine.
He expressed his willingness to exchange his departure for his country’s entry into the NATO military alliance.
“If (it means) peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” an irritated-looking Zelenskiy said when asked whether he was ready to give up his position if it meant securing peace. He was replying to a question during a press conference.
“I can exchange this for NATO [membership], if that condition is there, immediately,” Zelenskiy added.
Zelenskiy a “dictator”
U.S. President Donald Trump has branded Zelenskiy a “dictator” and also pushed for elections to take place in Ukraine. It is to mention here that the Ukrainian leader’s official five-year term has run out in 2024. Russia has also asserted that he is an illegitimate leader.
Ukrainian law prohibits holding elections during a state of martial law, which the country declared the day Russia invaded in February 2022.
“I am not going to be in power for decades, but we will not allow Putin to be in power over the territories of Ukraine either,” Zelenskiy said on Sunday.
Trump also claimed that Zelenskiy has an approval rating of four percent.
According to a poll released this week, Zelenskiy’s approval ratings was recorded at 63%, and he made reference to this when talking about Trump’s claims on Sunday, calling his false statements “dangerous”.
“I believe it’s not a mistake, it’s misinformation that has an impact,” Zelenskiy said.
Zelenskiy through a statement earlier this week angered the US President and his team by saying that Trump was in a “disinformation bubble”.
Relations between Trump and Zelenskiy deteriorated sharply in recent weeks.
Zelenskiy opposes the idea of elections in a full-scale war, a position backed by his major domestic political opponents.
