Zelenskyy says he would give up presidency in return for peace and NATO membership for Ukraine

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.

“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.

During a wide-ranging press conference, 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 shrugged off Mr Trump’s suggestion earlier this week that he is dictator. “I wasn’t offended, but a dictator would be”, he told reporters in Kyiv.

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.”

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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.

“I’ve spoken to President Putin and I think that thing [the war] is going to end,” said Mr Trump.

Ukraine has insisted it won’t accept any peace deal agreed without its participation, after it was excluded from a meeting between US and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia.