Top U.S. official suggests Zelensky may need to go | 2 March 2025 | Washington is unsure whether Vladimir Zelensky is the right man to lead Ukraine at this juncture, the US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has told CNN. The official argued that Friday's tumultuous spat between the Ukrainian leader, President Donald Trump and Vice President J.D. Vance indicated that Zelensky may not be ready to talk peace. When asked by CNN on Sunday to share his view of Zelensky, Waltz said, "It's unclear whether President Zelensky, particularly after what we saw on Friday, is ready to transition Ukraine to an end to this war, and to negotiate and have to compromise." He noted that it is President Trump's conviction that both Kiev and Moscow would have to make concessions in order to stop the bloodshed... When pressed by a CNN presenter as to whether the White House wanted Zelensky to step down, Waltz clarified, "We need a leader that can deal with us, eventually deal with the Russians, and end this war."