US Senator Lindsey Graham has called for the Ukrainian leader to be replaced with someone Washington can deal with

Ukrainian leader Vladimir Zelensky, who has refused to hold new elections since his presidential term expired last year, has dismissed calls to step down, in an interview with Fox News following his contentious White House visit on Friday.​

US President Donald Trump’s meeting with Zelensky at the White House earlier in the day escalated into a heated argument, with Trump telling Zelensky he is “in no position to dictate” and accusing him of failing to show gratitude to the American people for the aid Washington has provided to Kiev.​

The spectacle led many critics to question whether Zelensky could ever regain the reputation of a reliable partner. Even the notoriously pro-Kiev US Senator Lindsey Graham, who has visited Ukraine to meet with Zelensky on multiple occasions over the years, said the Ukrainian leader has crossed a line with his behavior.​

“What I saw in the Oval Office was disrespectful, and I don’t know if we can ever do business with Zelensky again,” Graham told reporters. “He either needs to resign and send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”​

Fox News host Bret Baier pressed Zelensky on whether he would consider the senator’s suggestion and resign.​

Zelensky responds to Lindsey Graham's demand to step down, reiterates once again he will not be resigning to ensure a peace deal. pic.twitter.com/aMp8zBKOUx

— Truth Rising TV (@TruthRising_TV) February 28, 2025

“I don’t know if he will be happy after my words: This decision can do only people of Ukraine [sic],” Zelensky replied. When pressed again on whether he would resign to allow for a peace deal in the Ukraine conflict, Zelensky dismissed the idea.​

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“I was always ready... I’m not sure that is a good idea for such proposes [sic],” he said, adding, “Americans vote for American president... Only Ukrainians vote for their president.”

Zelensky’s five-year presidential term concluded in May 2024, but he has refused to hold new elections, citing martial law.​

Trump recently labeled Zelensky a “dictator without elections” with a “4% approval rating.”​

After Friday’s disastrous White House meeting, Trump told the press that he believes Zelensky is more focused on tying the US down to long-term military support for Ukraine than on achieving a peace deal.​

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“We’re looking for peace. We’re not looking for somebody that’s going to sign up a strong power and then not make peace because they feel emboldened,” Trump said. “We’re not looking to go into a 10-year war... This is a man that wants to get us signed up and keep fighting.”​

Russian President Vladimir Putin said this week that Zelensky would stand “absolutely no chance” of winning a new election unless it was “grossly rigged.” Moscow has also stressed that any deal between Russia and Ukraine signed by Zelensky would be of questionable legal validity due to his expired presidential mandate.