Zelenskyy's remarks come after President Donald Trump accused him of being a "dictator without elections" and presented him as an obstacle to ending the war in Ukraine, saying last week after U.S.-Russia talks in Saudi Arabia that Zelenskyy "better move fast or he's not going to have a country left."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky wants the U.S. to provide better terms on the mineral deal and said he is willing to step down if it guarantees peace in Ukraine.