Volodymyr Zelenskyy has rebuffed US officials calling for him to resign as the president of Ukraine.
His comments come after Republicans including senator Lindsay Graham and speaker Mike Johnson suggested he should step down from his position following Friday’s fiery Oval Office exchange with Donald Trump.
The Ukrainian president was speaking as he sat down with a small group of reporters shortly before leaving the UK this evening.
In response to a question from Sky News’ lead world news presenter Yalda Hakim, Mr Zelenskyy said: “I can give [Lindsay Graham] citizenship of Ukraine and he will become a citizen of our country.
“And then his voice will start to gain weight, and I will hear him as a citizen of Ukraine on the topic of who must be the president.”
“The president of Ukraine will have to be chosen not in Lindsay Graham’s home but in Ukraine,” he added.
Mr Zelenskyy did reiterate that there is one situation which could see him agree to step down – if his resignation is in exchange for Ukraine‘s NATO membership.
“I am exchangeable for NATO,” he said.
“I have said that I am exchanging for NATO membership, then it means I have fulfilled my mission. NATO means I have fulfilled my mission.”
But he added: “To change me, it will not be easy because it is not enough to simply hold elections. You would need to prevent me from participating. And it will be a bit more difficult.”
Pic: Reuters
Mr Zelenskyy confirmed there has been communication between Ukraine and the Trump administration since the clash on Friday, but “not on my level”.
Mr Graham – a Republican senator and close Trump ally – labelled the meeting a “complete, utter disaster” at a press briefing on Friday.
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Asked whether Mr Zelenskyy should step aside, he said: “He either needs to resign or send somebody over that we can do business with, or he needs to change.”
Zelenskyy’s meeting with King Charles
The Ukrainian president’s 90-minute sit down with the media this evening came shortly after he wrapped up a tough week with a visit to see the King at Sandringham.
Mr Zelenskyy flew to Sandringham, Norfolk in a helicopter on Sunday afternoon after attending a security summit with Sir Keir Starmer and numerous world leaders in central London.
Pic: PA
People – some holding Ukraine flags – gathered outside Sandringham to try to witness his arrival. A military helicopter could be seen flying low before descending over the estate at around 5.25pm.
Pictures released after the meeting show Charles and Mr Zelenskyy shaking hands by the entrance to the royal home. The pair chatted briefly before heading inside, where they posed for more photographs.
Their meeting lasted just under an hour, Sky News understands.
Pic: PA
A difficult week for the Ukrainian president
Mr Zelenskyy’s difficult few days began on Friday, when his day at the White House with Mr Trump was cut short after their meeting in the Oval Office descended into a fiery shouting match.
The pair had been due to sign a minerals deal and hold a joint press conference – but both events were called off after their tense exchange, fuelled in part by comments from vice president JD Vance.
Read more:
What Ukrainians think of the Trump row
What did Vance say to Zelenskyy?
UK, France and Ukraine work on peace plan
Sir Keir welcomed Mr Zelenskyy to Downing Street on Saturday. Pic: PA
As White House officials scrapped the day’s schedule, Mr Trump described the meeting as “very meaningful” in a post on his Truth Social platform.
He wrote: “I have determined that President Zelenskyy is not ready for Peace if America is involved, because he feels our involvement gives him a big advantage in negotiations.”
Meanwhile, in an interview on Fox News, the Ukrainian president said the row was “not good for both sides” and refused to apologise.
Mr Zelenskyy then jetted to the UK where he met with Sir Keir and oversaw the signing of a new loan deal to support Ukraine’s war efforts on Saturday.
