Sun Feb 23 16:39:38 UTC 2025: ## Zelensky Offers Resignation for NATO Membership Amidst Trump-Putin Thaw
**Kyiv/Moscow** – On the eve of the third anniversary of the Russian invasion, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a dramatic offer: he would resign if it secured Ukraine’s admission to NATO. This unprecedented move comes amidst escalating tensions following a high-level meeting between US and Russian officials in Saudi Arabia, a development that has angered Ukraine and its European allies.
Zelensky’s offer, made at a Kyiv press conference, is part of his ongoing plea for NATO membership as a condition for ending the war. However, NATO has been hesitant to make such a commitment. The Ukrainian president expressed his willingness to step down immediately to achieve this goal, stating, “If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready. I can exchange it for NATO.”
The Saudi meeting, the first high-level US-Russia talks in three years, has further complicated the situation. The exclusion of Ukraine and European leaders fueled Zelensky’s call for a meeting with former US President Donald Trump before any summit between Trump and Vladimir Putin.
Trump’s recent criticism of Zelensky, including calling him a “dictator” and falsely claiming he is unpopular in Ukraine, has added another layer of complexity. Zelensky, however, downplayed the insults, stating he would welcome a popularity test after martial law ends. He emphasized his desire for a meeting with Trump to secure US security guarantees and noted progress on a deal granting the US preferential access to Ukraine’s resources.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, hailed the burgeoning Trump-Putin dialogue as “promising,” with spokesperson Dmitry Peskov dismissing any territorial concessions from Russia as a possibility. Peskov reiterated Moscow’s rejection of Ukraine’s NATO aspirations and insisted that territories annexed by Russia would not be relinquished.
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres, meanwhile, called for a peace deal respecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity. Putin, in a video address, attributed his war aims to divine will and national defense.
Russia launched a massive drone attack overnight, though Ukraine reported intercepting nearly all of them. The Kremlin has reveled in the recent diplomatic spat between Trump and Zelensky, with Peskov characterizing Zelensky’s remarks as “inappropriate.” Further US-Russia diplomatic meetings are scheduled for next week, prompting French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to travel to Washington to advocate for continued support for Ukraine.
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