Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he would step down as president of Ukraine if it meant his nation would be accepted into NATO.
Zelenskyy told reporters Sunday he was willing to give up the presidency “if it is for the peace of Ukraine,” or if Ukraine is offered NATO membership – after President Donald Trump called him a “dictator” for failing to hold wartime elections.
He also said he did not agree with Trump that Ukraine should pay the U.S. retroactively for the over $100 billion in aid offered since war broke out three years ago on Monday.
“We agreed with Biden that this was a grant. A grant is not a debt,” Zelenskyy said.
The second draft of the deal, obtained by the New York Times, was even harsher – and would have required Kyiv to give up its minerals, oil and gas revenues and earnings from ports and other infrastructure until reaching $500 billion.
Zelenskyy said he would not recognize Trump’s $500 billion figure, as the assistance Ukraine had received from the U.S. was closer to $100 billion.
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