AFP reported that President Zelensky said he was ready to resign if that helped Ukraine join NATO. The statement comes amid growing pressure from the US after a tense confrontation with President Donald Trump at the White House.
Over the weekend, some Republican lawmakers suggested that Zelensky could resign after President Donald Trump publicly turned his back on him at a meeting at the Trump Department on the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Responding to the British media on 2 March, President Zelensky affirmed that replacing him was not simple.
If they replace me, in the current context, with the support we have, it will not be easy, Zelensky said. "It is not only necessary to organize an election, but also to prevent me from running. This will be more complicated. It seems like they will have to negotiate with me.
Debate over Zelensky's political fate has been heightened after he left the White House without reaching a preliminary agreement on sharing Ukraine's mineral exploitation rights with the US.
While European leaders continue to support Ukraine, many Republican officials in the US have questioned whether a peace deal with Russia could be reached while Zelensky is still in office.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz told CNN: We need a leader who can work with the US, eventually negotiate with Russia and end this conflict. If President Zelensky's personal or political motives do not move towards ending the conflict, we have a real problem."
House Speaker Mike Johnson also expressed skepticism about President Zelensky's leadership: "Either he needs to be alert and grateful for the support, or someone else to lead Ukraine."
Despite repeatedly calling on NATO to admit Ukraine, President Zelensky has yet to receive any guarantees from the US-led alliance. President Trump said in February that Ukraine lets forget about joining NATO, arguing that it could be the cause of the conflicts explosion.
Russia cited the risk of Ukraine joining NATO as one of the main reasons for conducting a military campaign 3 years ago. Now, with the US showing signs of changing its attitude and the West starting to divide, it is unclear whether President Zelensky can maintain his position, or a new chapter in the upcoming Ukraine conflict.
