Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV near Rome on Tuesday as part of his ongoing efforts to secure European support for Ukraine amidst increasing pressure from the U.S. for a compromise with Russia. In a WhatsApp chat with reporters, Zelenskyy reiterated his firm stance against ceding any territory, emphasizing, “we clearly don’t want to give up anything,” despite U.S. expectations for a settlement.
During the conversation, Zelenskyy pointed out that Russia demands territorial concessions, but he maintained that under Ukrainian law, international law, and moral grounds, Ukraine has no right to surrender any land. This firm position reflects Ukraine's constitutional obligations and its commitment to sovereignty. Following his meeting with the Pope at Castel Gandolfo, Zelenskyy was scheduled to hold talks with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later that day. The Vatican noted that Pope Leo XIV reiterated the importance of continued dialogue and expressed hopes for a just and lasting peace.
The Vatican has sought to remain neutral in the ongoing conflict, while offering support to the Ukrainian people, whom it refers to as “martyred.” The Pope has met with Zelenskyy three times and has communicated with Russian President Vladimir Putin via telephone, advocating for a ceasefire and urging Russia to make gestures toward peace.
On Monday, Zelenskyy engaged in discussions in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, seeking to reinforce Ukraine's position amid rising impatience from U.S. President Donald Trump. Zelenskyy described the current U.S. peace proposal, which has been refined to 20 points from an earlier 28, as an improvement, noting that some “obvious anti-Ukrainian points” had been removed.
Trump, who has had a fluctuating relationship with Zelenskyy, expressed frustration at the Ukrainian leader during a recent press interaction, claiming Zelenskyy had not fully acquainted himself with the U.S. proposal. Trump has consistently suggested that Ukraine should cede territory to Russia in exchange for ending the conflict, a notion Zelenskyy firmly rejects, stating, “We live here, from within we see details and nuances, we perceive everything much deeper, because this is our motherland.”
The support from European leaders for Ukraine remains strong, with Starmer, Macron, and Merz expressing their commitment to a “just and lasting ceasefire.” Merz, however, voiced skepticism towards certain details of the U.S. documents, emphasizing the need for discussions in the critical days ahead. European allies are working to ensure that any potential ceasefire is backed by solid security guarantees from both Europe and the U.S. to prevent future Russian aggression, a point Trump has not publicly clarified.
As negotiations continue, both Ukraine and Russia are engaged in ongoing aerial strikes. Ukraine's Air Force reported that Russia launched 110 drones across the country, with 84 being intercepted by air defenses. This led to emergency blackouts in various regions due to damage to energy infrastructure. In retaliation, Ukraine conducted drone attacks on Russian targets, including a significant strike on an LPG terminal in Russia’s Krasnodar region, resulting in large-scale destruction and a fire that lasted over three days.
These developments underline the complexity of the situation as both nations exchange strikes while pursuing negotiations. The conflict persists amid Zelenskyy's diplomatic efforts and the contrasting views of international partners regarding the path forward in achieving peace.
