A contentious U.S. proposal that would have seen $500 billion worth of profits from Ukrainian rare minerals given to the United States as compensation for its wartime assistance to Kyiv has been taken off the table,

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, when pressed at a news conference, said he is willing to give up the role in exchange for Nato membership for his country. His comments come in the wake of the largest single drone attack of the war, as Ukrainian officials say 267 were launched into the country earlier today, causing casualties.

It was not clear if the Ukrainian leader was serious or if he was just reacting to attacks against him from Washington and Moscow. He also pushed back against a minerals deal proposed by the United States.