Speaking to reporters at his heavily fortified office in the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, Zelenskyy warned the West that Russia could move to the rest of Europe if Putin’s military offensive is successful.

“It’s not that I want to talk to Putin,” the Ukrainian president said. “I need to talk to Putin. The world needs to talk to Putin. There is no other way to stop this war.”

Then, addressing Putin, he said: “What do you want from us? Leave our land.”

“Sit down with me, just not 30 metres away”, he added, making a reference to Putin receiving world leaders at an enormously long table.

Russia launched an invasion of Ukraine last week, describing it as a “special military operation” aimed at ousting the “neo-Nazis” who ruled the country. The West responded with unprecedented sanctions on Moscow, but Russian forces continued their attacks on Ukrainian cities, including the capital, Kyiv in the north, Kharkiv, the second largest city in the east, and the port cities of Khursin and Mariupol in the south.

The eight-day conflict has killed and injured thousands and sent more than a million refugees to neighboring Ukraine.

Zelenskyy on Thursday again called on Western leaders to impose a no-fly zone over Ukraine, which the United States has previously rejected, saying such a move could lead to a direct conflict with Russia. But the Ukrainian president said the Russians would not stop with Ukraine.

“If you do not have the power to close the skies, then give me planes!” Zelensky said.

“If we are no more then, God forbid, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia will be next,” he said, adding: “Believe me.”