Volodymyr Zelensky is prepared to step down as president of Ukraine in change for peace or the nation being granted Nato membership.
On Sunday, the Ukrainian president mentioned: “I’m able to step down if it brings peace. Or trade it for Nato.”
Mr Zelensky added that he was targeted on Ukraine’s safety now, not in 20 years’ time, saying that it’s not his “dream” to stay president for a decade.
His feedback got here after Donald Trump branded him a “dictator” for not holding elections, that are banned underneath martial regulation in Ukraine.
Reviews emerged this week that Ukraine could also be pressured to carry elections earlier than any final peace deal is signed with Russia.
Mr Trump mentioned the demand for a Ukrainian presidential election “came from me”. He then appeared in charge Ukraine for beginning the struggle and never reaching an settlement itself.
“You’ve been there for 3 years … You need to have by no means began it. You can have made a deal,” he mentioned.
Mr Zelensky mentioned there can be an “vital assembly” of leaders on Monday, the third anniversary of the struggle.
The leaders will discuss their technique “not for the approaching years, however for the approaching week”, he mentioned.
Russia has repeatedly said that Ukraine should not be allowed to hitch Nato as a part of any peace settlement. Pete Hegseth, the US defence secretary, mentioned Nato membership for Ukraine was unlikely as a part of negotiations throughout his go to to Brussels final week.
It got here as Ukrainian officers mentioned Russia launched its single largest drone assault of the struggle thus far on Sunday.
A “report” 267 Russian drones had been launched in a single, coordinated assault, mentioned Yuriy Ignat, Ukraine’s air pressure command spokesman.
Some 138 drones had been intercepted, whereas 119 disappeared with out inflicting injury after being jammed, he added.
Although many had been intercepted, drone strikes brought on destruction and fires throughout Ukraine in a single day.
The strikes got here on the eve of the third anniversary of the war in Ukraine and because the White Home mentioned Donald Trump was assured {that a} deal to cease the battle might be achieved “this week”.
‘Aerial terror’
Mr Zelensky mentioned it was the biggest drone assault in opposition to his nation since Russia began utilizing Iranian drones.
“Every single day, our folks stand in opposition to aerial terror,” Mr Zelensky mentioned, including that Ukraine had been attacked by 1,150 drones throughout your entire week.
Credit score: State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Kyiv
The Ukrainian president mentioned it confirmed the necessity to convey a “lasting and simply peace”, which he mentioned may solely be achieved with the “energy of all of Europe and America”.
Tensions between Washington and Kyiv have been heightened in latest days after Mr Zelensky reportedly refused to signal an settlement that might hand over $500bn of vital minerals and uncommon earths to the US.
White Home officers had mentioned {that a} deal was shut after the Ukrainian president initially rejected a primary draft final week.
However the supply mentioned the settlement was not but able to be signed as there have been plenty of problematic points within the present type of the draft.
On Saturday evening, Mr Trump mentioned it was “not honest” that the US was getting nothing in return for its army assist of Ukraine.
“I feel we’re fairly near a deal,” the president mentioned in a speech on the Conservative Political Motion Convention, including: “We higher be shut to at least one.”
Karoline Leavitt, his press secretary, mentioned the US president was “very assured” {that a} deal to finish the struggle might be struck “this week”.
“The president, his staff are very a lot targeted on persevering with negotiations with either side of this struggle to finish the battle, and the president could be very assured we will get it accomplished this week,” Ms Leavitt mentioned following the Conservative Political Motion Convention.
Mike Waltz, the White Home’s nationwide safety adviser, was “working across the clock” to get a deal and “finish this battle with Ukraine,” she added.
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