February 23rd 2025.
On Sunday, Ukraine's President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, spoke at a forum in Kyiv marking the three-year anniversary of Russia's invasion. He expressed his willingness to give up his presidency if it meant achieving lasting peace for his country under the protection of NATO. Zelenskyy stated, "If my stepping down from office is what it takes to bring about peace, then I am ready to do so." When asked if he would trade his presidency for peace, he responded, "I would trade it for NATO."
Zelenskyy's comment seemed to be directed towards recent remarks made by US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, suggesting that elections should be held in Ukraine despite it being prohibited by Ukrainian law during martial law. Earlier that day, Zelenskyy announced that Russia had launched 267 attack drones into Ukraine, the largest attack since the war began. The Ukrainian air force confirmed that 138 drones had been shot down and 119 others were lost en route to their targets. In addition, three ballistic missiles were fired, resulting in one civilian casualty.
This attack came at a time when leaders in Kyiv and Europe are struggling to navigate the rapidly changing foreign policy of the US under President Trump. Many fear that Trump's recent actions and statements may lead to a settlement of the war without involving Ukraine and its European allies. Zelenskyy has expressed concerns that a hasty resolution could result in the loss of Ukrainian territory and leave the country vulnerable to future Russian aggression. However, US officials have assured that Ukraine will be involved in any peace talks.
Nevertheless, Trump's statements this week have caused alarm and anger in Ukraine. He suggested that Ukraine started the war and accused Zelenskyy of being a "dictator" for not holding elections during martial law. On Saturday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister announced that preparations were underway for a meeting between Trump and Putin, indicating a potential shift in US policy towards Russia.
In response to the recent Russian attacks, Andrii Sybiha, Ukraine's Minister of Foreign Affairs, stated that the attacks only further prove that Russia is the aggressor in this conflict. He urged the international community to look at Putin's actions, rather than his words. Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials discussed a potential deal with the US that would allow access to Ukrainian rare earth minerals. Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andrii Yermak, stated that the government is considering investment opportunities with both the US and European countries, including the development and extraction of minerals. Yermak clarified that any agreement must align with Ukraine's national interests and be beneficial to their partners.
Before leaving the forum, Economic Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko revealed that there are approximately USD 350 billion worth of minerals on Ukrainian territories currently occupied by Russia. However, she noted that this estimate is based on outdated geological maps and further exploration is needed to confirm the actual deposits. In a special televised message on Sunday, Putin praised Russian soldiers for defending their country's interests in Ukraine and pledged to provide more support and resources for the armed forces.
As Europe prepares for talks with Trump, the UK announced plans to impose new sanctions on Russia, citing the need to erode their military capabilities and reduce their funding for the conflict in Ukraine. Both British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron will be visiting Washington this week to discuss the situation in Ukraine and urge Trump not to abandon their support for the country. Starmer emphasized the importance of involving Ukraine in any discussions regarding the conflict and ensuring their long-term security.
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