Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says he wants to work “directly” with US President-elect Donald Trump and is open to his ideas, highlighting Kyiv’s eagerness to keep its most important ally onside as Russia intensifies its attacks.

Zelenskyy suggested that the "hot phase" of the Russia-Ukraine war could end if unoccupied parts of Ukraine came "under the NATO umbrella."

He was asked by Sky News whether he would accept Nato membership, but only on the territory that Kyiv currently holds. Zelensky said he would, but only if Nato membership was offered to the whole of Ukraine,

Any proposal to join the military alliance should be extended to all parts of the country that fall under internationally recognized borders, Ukraine's president said.

In a dramatic shift, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy hints at a ceasefire involving NATO support for Ukraine’s borders, signaling the possibility of Ukraine negotiating back Russian-occupied areas.

This wouldn’t mean ending Ukraine’s claim to land within its internationally recognised borders, instead opting to recover it through diplomatic rather than military means. But Zelenskyy wants something key allies have so far refused to consider – NATO membership,