Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said he is willing to step down from his role in exchange for Nato membership.
Zelensky said he was focused on Ukraine‘s security now, not in 20 years’ time, adding that it is not his “dream” to remain president for a decade.
“If you need me to leave this chair, I am ready to do that, and I also can exchange it for Nato membership for Ukraine,” he said.
He also ruled out a US–Ukraine rare earth minerals deal if it meant Kyiv having to repay the US for military aid already provided over the last three years.
This is despite US president Donald Trump and US officials claiming a deal on the issue was close and would likely be agreed next week.
Trump has demanded preferential access to around $500bn of Ukraine’s rare earth minerals under the agreement as repayment for Washington’s military support under Biden.
Zelensky previously dismissed the idea as “not serious”, saying there was no factual basis for claiming the US was owed $500bn, as well as the deal providing Ukraine with no security guarantees.
Today, Zelensky again refused to acknowledge the $500bn figure and said grants provided by Biden should not now be treated as loans.
Trump envoy says US firms may do business in Russia in case of peace deal
Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has said there would be an expectation that US firms may do business in Russia in the event of a peace deal in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The US president has been pushing for a deal to end the war in Ukraine and held separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky this month.
“Obviously there would be an expectation that if we get to a peace deal, that you would be able to have American companies come back and do business there. And I think that everybody would believe that that would be a positive, good thing to happen,” Witkoff told the CBS News program “Face The Nation”.
US treasury secretary Scott Bessent told Bloomberg Television on Thursday that Russia could win some relief from US sanctions based on its willingness to negotiate an end to its war in Ukraine. Asked whether the US is prepared to increase sanctions on Russia or reduce them depending on how talks to end the Ukraine war go, Bessent had said: “That’d be a very good characterisation.”
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 18:00
Starmer and Macron reiterate ‘steadfast commitment’ to Ukraine
Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron spoke on Sunday, with the PM reiterating Britain’s “steadfast commitment” to supporting Ukraine as long as it needs.
Ahead of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Downing Street said it was “a stark reminder that we must all work together to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position at this crucial moment for global security”.
Both leaders are visiting Donald Trump in Washington this week to discuss the president’s peace plans for Ukraine.
A spokesman said: “The prime minister repeated the UK’s steadfast commitment to support Ukraine for as long as needed and reiterated the importance of Ukraine being at the centre of any negotiations to end the conflict.
“The UK and Europe must continue stepping up to meet their security needs and show united leadership in support of Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression, which they would both discuss in the US in the coming week.”
Political correspondent Archie Mitchell23 February 2025 17:49
Starmer and Macron discuss showing ‘united leadership in support of Ukraine’ in Trump meetings
Prime minister Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron agreed to both discuss showing “united leadership in support of Ukraine” when they meet separately with US president Donald Trump this week, Downing Street said after the pair spoke on Sunday.
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:39
EU’s Costa calls European Council meeting to discuss Ukraine
The European Union Council President has said he has called a special European Council for 6 March to discuss Ukraine and European defence.
In the statement posted on X on Sunday, Antonio Costa said that in consultations with European leaders he had seen a shared commitment to strengthen European defence and contributing decisively to the long-term security of Ukraine.
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:25
‘We are living a definining moment for Ukraine and European security,’ says EU council president
The president of the European council Antonio Costa has described the world as living through a “defining moment” when it comes to Ukraine and European security.
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:16
Zelensky says issue of elections is a step to apply pressure to Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said the issue of elections in Ukraine is being raised to apply pressure as a part of the preparation of “certain documents” that would not be in his country’s interests.
Speaking at a press conference on Sunday, he said any deal struck between the US and Russia to end the war in Ukraine would not be successful if Ukraine did not agree to its conditions.
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:13
Watch: Zelensky willing to step down in exchange for Nato membership
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:11
Zelensky says Ukraine is working on Patriot air defence system domestic analogue
President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine was working on domestic alternatives of the US-produced Patriot air defence system.
“Honestly, we are working on Ukrainian analogues… I won’t say anything else,” he told a press conference on Sunday.
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:08
Any deal US and Russia strike to end war won’t be successful if Ukraine doesn’t agree, warns Zelensky
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that any deal the US might strike with Russia to end the war will not be successful if Ukraine does not agree to its conditions.
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:03
Putin appoints Russia sovereign wealth fund chief Kirill Dmitriev special envoy
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday appointed the chief of Russia’s sovereign wealth fund, Kirill Dmitriev, as a special envoy on international economic and investment cooperation, according to a decree quoted by Russian news agencies.
The appointment of Dmitriev, considered the most US-savvy member of Russia’s elite, comes after the highest-level US-Russia talks since Russia sent its forces into Ukraine in 2022.
Tara Cobham23 February 2025 17:01