US President Donald Trump said that a Ukraine peace deal could boost his chances of going to heaven, joking that his chances of getting through the gates of heaven right now are slim.

The American head of state has already said that he wants to end Russia's war in Ukraine as part of his efforts to win the Nobel Peace Prize.

But a day after welcoming the leaders of Ukraine and several European countries to the White House, Trump pointed out that his motives are not entirely earthly.

"I want to try to get into heaven, if possible. I hear I'm not doing well — I hear I'm actually at the bottom of the hierarchy! But if I can get into heaven, that will be one of the reasons," Trump said on Fox News' morning show "Fox & Friends."

By traditional standards, Trump, who has been married three times and impeached twice, is no saint, AFP reported.

The billionaire Republican has been involved in a number of scandals over the years and is the first president with a criminal conviction, in his case for paying hush money to a porn star.

However, Trump has taken on an increasingly religious tone since surviving an assassination attempt last year. During his inauguration in January, he said he had been "saved by God to make America great again."

With strong support from the religious right in America, Trump has embraced religious attributes much more strongly during his second term in the White House.

He appointed an official spiritual advisor, Paula White. She has led a series of prayer meetings in which participants have laid their hands on Trump during events at the White House.

Trump's press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, said she believes "the president is serious" about his comments on Ukraine.

"I think the president wants to get to heaven, as I hope all of us in this room do," said Leavitt, 27, who also holds prayer sessions before her briefings. | BGNES