Zelenskyy rejects giving land to Russia while seeking European backing
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has firmly rejected any notion of ceding territory to Russia, resisting U.S. pressure for concessions while continuing to rally European support. “Russia insists we give up territories. We clearly don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,” Zelenskyy said in a late Monday chat with reporters. He emphasized that under Ukrainian law, the constitution, international law, and moral grounds, Kyiv has no right to hand over land.
Zelenskyy met on Tuesday with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo and is scheduled to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Vatican reiterated its call for dialogue and a just, lasting peace. The Holy See has sought to maintain neutrality while expressing solidarity with the Ukrainian people, whom it calls “martyred.” Pope Leo has met Zelenskyy three times and spoken with Russian President Vladimir Putin, urging gestures to advance peace.
Earlier, Zelenskyy held discussions in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to bolster Ukraine’s position amid pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump. U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks over a peace proposal, which includes a contentious suggestion that Kyiv cede control of the Donbas region, largely under illegal Russian occupation. Ukraine and European allies have firmly rejected this idea. Zelenskyy said the latest U.S. plan, now 20 points instead of 28, removed some “obvious anti-Ukrainian points.”
Trump has expressed frustration with Zelenskyy, claiming the Ukrainian leader has not yet reviewed the proposal, while repeatedly urging territorial concessions to end the nearly four-year conflict. Zelenskyy stressed that living in Ukraine gives him a deeper understanding of the situation and the need to protect the homeland.
European leaders strongly backed Kyiv. Starmer called the push for peace “critical” and emphasized the need for a just and lasting ceasefire. Merz said some details in U.S. documents were “skeptical” and called for further discussion, noting that the coming days could be decisive. The Europeans aim to ensure any ceasefire includes firm security guarantees to prevent future Russian attacks, which Trump has not publicly offered. Zelenskyy and his allies have accused Russia of dragging out talks while continuing its invasion.
Meanwhile, fighting continues on the ground. Ukraine reported that Russia launched 110 drones overnight, with 84 intercepted and 24 hitting targets. Damage to energy infrastructure caused emergency blackouts in several regions. Ukraine also carried out drone strikes on Russian territory, including an LPG terminal in Temryuk, Krasnodar region, igniting a fire that burned for over three days and damaged railway equipment. Russia reported destroying 121 Ukrainian drones over its regions and Crimea, with one attack in Chuvashia damaging residential buildings and injuring nine people.
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