Unwavering courage of Zelensky

On the eve of the third anniversary of Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine, the country’s democratically elected President, Volodymyr Zelensky, showed he is a true patriot. He has offered to resign if doing so cleared the way for his country to be admitted to NATO.

His putting Ukraine’s security ahead of his career interests will enhance his respect and support among his countrymen. “If there is peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” Mr Zelensky told a news conference in Kyiv. “I can exchange it for NATO.”

NATO membership, long sought by Ukraine, would boost its future security. But alliance members, including Washington, have been reluctant to commit. Such a development would anger and provoke the Russian tyrant, who has repeatedly rejected NATO membership for Ukraine.

US and Russian officials met in Saudi Arabia last week for their first high-level talks in three years. But Ukraine and European leaders were excluded. For any peace deal to be workable and sustainable, however, Ukraine must be included in future negotiations.

To his credit, Mr Zelensky appears unfazed by Donald Trump’s false and irrational criticisms, and wants to meet the US President before Mr Trump and Putin meet. Mr Zelensky also said there was progress on a deal to give the US preferential access to Ukraine’s critical minerals, in return for US protection. Critical minerals are essential for high-technology manufacturing.

Last week, Mr Trump branded Mr Zelensky a “dictator’’ and claimed, wrongly, that Ukraine “started” the war, and that, contrary to independent opinion polls, the Ukrainian leader was unpopular. But Mr Zelensky said he was not “offended” by Mr Trump’s comments and was ready to test his popularity in elections once martial law ends in Ukraine. Security guarantees from the US were “much needed” by Ukraine, he said.