Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sharply replied to Senator Lindsey Graham’s suggestion that he resign, inviting Graham to move to Ukraine and gain citizenship for his opinion to hold weight. This exchange came after a tense Oval Office meeting with President Donald Trump and Vice President JD Vance, where Zelensky sought stronger US support but faced accusations of ingratitude. The discussion escalated into confrontations over Ukraine’s territorial concessions and Russian aggression, culminating in Trump cutting the meeting short. Graham criticized Zelensky post-meeting, urging the Ukrainian leader to change or resign to improve US-Ukraine relations.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky responded sharply to US Senator Lindsey Graham’s suggestion that he should resign, telling the South Carolina Republican that if he wanted his opinion to hold weight, he could move to Ukraine and become a citizen.
“I can offer him Ukrainian citizenship,” Zelensky remarked when asked about Graham’s comments. “He would become a member of our nation, thereby allowing his voice to carry more significance. I will listen to him as a Ukrainian citizen regarding who should be the president.”
???? NEW: President Zelensky says Sen. Lindsey Graham can relocate to Ukraine and obtain citizenship if he wants his call for resignation to have “weight”:
Reporter: “Senator Lindsey Graham suggested that perhaps you should consider stepping down…”
Zelensky: “I can provide him with the citizenship of… pic.twitter.com/YBsDOgSOIJ
— Chris D. Jackson (@ChrisDJackson) March 2, 2025
Graham, a longtime supporter of Ukraine but now a vocal critic of Zelensky, replied, “Unfortunately, until there is an election, no one has a voice in Ukraine.”
Unfortunately, until there is an election, no one has a voice in Ukraine. https://t.co/kLuVlRiRqw
— Lindsey Graham (@LindseyGrahamSC) March 2, 2025
The Tense Oval Office Meeting
The intense exchange followed a tumultuous meeting between Zelensky, his US counterpart Donald Trump, and Vice President JD Vance in the Oval Office on Friday. Zelensky had been advocating for increased US support for Ukraine’s war efforts, but the conversation quickly devolved into a public confrontation.
As tensions rose, Trump pressed Zelensky on whether Ukraine was prepared to make territorial concessions to Russia. Vance escalated the situation by accusing the Ukrainian president of not appreciating American assistance.
Zelensky countered Vance’s claims, asking, “What type of diplomacy, JD?” He reminded everyone of Ukraine’s several failed negotiations with Russia prior to the full-scale invasion. The exchange grew increasingly heated, culminating in Trump declaring that Zelensky was “gambling with World War III.”
When Zelensky pushed back, citing Ukraine’s unsuccessful diplomatic efforts with Russia, Vance accused him of being “ungrateful” and “disrespectful” towards the US President.
The situation reached its peak when Zelensky cautioned that Russian aggression could eventually pose a threat to the US. “You have a beautiful ocean and don’t feel it now, but you will in the future,” he asserted. This reportedly irritated Trump, who abruptly ended the meeting and scrapped a scheduled joint press conference.
In a subsequent interview, Zelensky acknowledged that his exchange with Trump and Vance had been intense but defended his stance, describing it as “necessary.”
Graham Calls For Zelensky To “Resign”
Following the meeting, Lindsey Graham did not hesitate to express his criticism. “He either needs to step down and send someone we can work with, or he needs to change,” the senator told reporters outside the White House. He characterized the discussion as a “complete and utter disaster” and suggested that Zelensky’s leadership had become an impediment to effective US-Ukraine relations.
Hours before the Oval Office confrontation, Graham had reportedly cautioned Zelensky.
“Don’t take the bait,” the senator warned, advising the Ukrainian leader to steer clear of heated debates over security agreements. However, Zelensky did not hold back once the meeting commenced — leading to one of the most intense diplomatic standoffs in recent US-Ukraine relations.