Ukraine’s president has said he would step down in return for peace and NATO membership for his country.
“If [it means] peace for Ukraine, if you really need me to leave my post, I am ready,” Volodymyr Zelenskyy said at a news conference.
“I can exchange this for NATO [membership], if that condition is there, immediately,” he added.
Donald Trump has previously said Ukraine is unlikely to become a NATO ally and membership is a red line for Russia.
Mr Zelenskyy’s comment appeared to be a response to Mr Trump recently calling him a “dictator” as Ukraine hadn’t held fresh elections – despite laws prohibiting it during wartime
During a wide-ranging conference in Kyiv, Mr Zelenskyy also said talks on a minerals deal with the US were moving forward, adding “all is OK”, despite concerns of a stalemate in negotiations.
President Trump said on Saturday a deal was “pretty close” and he was determined to get payback for billions of dollars of aid provided to Ukraine.
Ukraine wants the deal to include robust security guarantees over any future peace settlement with Russia.
Mr Zelenskyy also told Sky’s Deborah Hayes that next week’s visits to Washington by Sir Keir Starmer and Emmanuel Macron were vital.
He said Europe had to be “at the table” when a peace deal is negotiated.
“Who will represent Europe – I can’t tell you now exactly,” he said.
“But I think one person will represent the EU. And of course, the UK has to be at the table, if we speak, for example, about security guarantees.”
The UK prime minister has said he’s prepared to deploy British troops to Ukraine as part of a peacekeeping force.
‘Biggest drone attack of war’
The Ukrainian leader was speaking after his country was hit overnight with what he called the biggest drone attack since the war started.
Mr Zelenskyy condemned Russia for the “aerial terror” – a day before the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion.
“Every day, our people stand against aerial terror,” Mr Zelenskyy wrote on X.
“On the eve of the third anniversary of the full-scale war, Russia launched 267 attack drones against Ukraine – the largest attack since Iranian drones began striking Ukrainian cities and villages.”
A total of 138 of the drones were shot down and another 119 disappeared from radars after being jammed by electronic warfare, Ukraine’s air force said.
Damage was reported across five regions.
Mr Zelenskyy said nearly 1,150 drones, more than 1,400 guided aerial bombs and 35 missiles had been launched at Ukraine in the past week.
He thanked those operating air defences and called on allies to stand united to secure a “just and lasting peace”.
“This is achievable through the unity of all partners – we need the strength of all of Europe, the strength of America, the strength of everyone who seeks lasting peace,” he said.
It comes amid concerns over Mr Trump’s recent war of words with Mr Zelenskyy and his false claim that Ukraine had started the war.
At a conservative conference on Saturday, Mr Trump – who alarmed Europe and Ukraine by holding a recent call with Vladimir Putin – repeated his optimism that a peace deal is possible under his watch.
