BY EMMANUEL OGBONNA
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo on Tuesday as part of an urgent diplomatic tour aimed at bolstering European support and resisting accelerating pressure from Washington to accept a territorial compromise with Russia.
Speaking to reporters in a WhatsApp exchange late Monday, Zelenskyy flatly rejected the notion of surrendering any Ukrainian land, stressing that Kyiv is bound not only by law but by a moral obligation to defend its territory. “We clearly don’t want to give up anything,” he said. “The Americans are looking for a compromise today, I will be honest. Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. According to the law we don’t have such a right. According to Ukraine’s law, our constitution, international law — and morally, we do not have that right either.”
Zelenskyy’s early-morning meeting with the pope marked their third in-person discussion since the full-scale invasion began. The Vatican said the pontiff emphasized the importance of continuing dialogue and expressed hope that diplomatic efforts would lead to a “just and lasting peace.” While the Holy See has attempted to maintain neutrality, Leo has consistently offered humanitarian support for Ukrainians, urging an immediate ceasefire and calling on Russia to demonstrate genuine intent to de-escalate.
Later Tuesday, Zelenskyy was expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni as he continues a week of high-stakes diplomacy across Europe. His Rome visit followed a day of talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, all aimed at reinforcing Ukraine’s position at a moment of growing impatience from U.S. President Donald Trump.
Trump’s administration and Ukrainian diplomats wrapped up three days of negotiations on Saturday in an effort to bridge differences over Washington’s latest peace proposal. A central dispute is the suggestion that Kyiv might be expected to relinquish control over the Donbas region, much of which Russia still occupies. The idea has been firmly rejected by Ukraine and its European partners, who argue that conceding territory would reward aggression and undermine the principles underpinning European security.
Trump signaled irritation over the stalled talks, telling reporters Sunday night that Zelenskyy “hasn’t yet read the proposal,” a claim the Ukrainian president has not directly addressed. Since returning to office, Trump has frequently cast the war as a burden on U.S. taxpayers and argued that ceding territory could end the conflict more quickly — a stance that has fueled unease in European capitals.
Zelenskyy, however, noted Monday that the American proposal has evolved, shrinking from 28 points to 20 after what he described as the removal of several “obvious anti-Ukrainian points.” He acknowledged that Trump “certainly wants to end the war” but stressed that Ukrainians understand the consequences more deeply because “this is our motherland.”
European leaders, for their part, offered Zelenskyy strong public backing. Starmer said peace efforts are at a “critical stage,” insisting that any ceasefire must be “just and lasting.” Merz echoed concerns about aspects of the U.S. documents, saying he remained “skeptical” of certain provisions and emphasizing that the days ahead could prove decisive. European governments are working to finalize security guarantees designed to deter future Russian attacks, but Trump has not publicly committed to similar assurances.
As diplomatic efforts intensified, fighting on the ground showed no sign of abating. Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 110 drones across the country overnight, with air defenses intercepting 84. The rest struck energy sites and civilian infrastructure, prompting emergency blackouts in multiple regions, according to the national grid operator, Ukrenergo.
Ukraine carried out its own wave of drone strikes on Russian territory. Russia’s Defense Ministry said its air defenses destroyed 121 Ukrainian drones fired at regions across the country and occupied Crimea. In the Chuvashia region — far from the Ukrainian border — debris from a downed drone damaged residential buildings and injured nine people, according to local governor Oleg Nikolayev.
Ukrainian security officials also confirmed involvement in a December 5 drone strike on an LPG terminal at the port of Temryuk in Russia’s Krasnodar region. An official familiar with the operation said the attack ignited a massive blaze that consumed more than 20 storage tanks and burned for over three days, also damaging railway tank cars and fueling infrastructure. The official spoke anonymously due to restrictions on discussing active military operations.
Zelenskyy’s rapid diplomatic tour — from London to Rome — underscores the delicate moment Ukraine faces. As Russia advances slowly on the battlefield and the United States presses for concessions, European support has become increasingly vital. For now, Kyiv’s message remains unchanged: Ukraine will not surrender its land, and any future peace must reflect both justice and sovereignty.
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