The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that he is willing to exchange his position for his country’s membership in the North Atlantic Alliance.
This was his response to a question from a journalist at Sky News regarding his views on the prospect of elections in Ukraine. According to Zelensky, given the support in light of recent events, "it won’t be easy to 'replace' me":
"It’s not enough just to hold elections. I also need to be prevented from running. That’s a bit more complicated because we need to negotiate with me. And I’ve said that I’m trading myself for NATO. If the war is over and Ukraine has become a NATO member - I will have fulfilled my mission."
The U.S. Advocates for Elections
As is well known, following a tense meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, where an agreement on natural resources failed, some American politicians expressed dissatisfaction with the Ukrainian president.
In particular, National Security Advisor Mike Waltz stated that territorial concessions from Ukraine are necessary to achieve peace with Russia, while House Speaker Mike Johnson hinted at the possibility of a change in Ukrainian leadership.
Senator Lindsey Graham also expressed doubts regarding Zelensky's ability to "restore American trust" after the incident with Trump, suggesting the possibility of his replacement.
However, other American politicians, such as Senator Bernie Sanders, firmly opposed such calls, emphasizing the importance of supporting Ukraine and its current leadership in the fight against Russian aggression.