Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV in Italy on Tuesday as Kyiv prepares to submit revised proposals to the United States aimed at ending Russia’s ongoing invasion.
The meeting came after a whirlwind diplomatic tour that saw Zelensky hold talks in London and Brussels on Monday, even as US President Donald Trump intensified pressure on Ukraine to accept a negotiated settlement.
Trump has accused Zelensky of not reviewing Washington’s initial 28-point proposal, which European allies criticised as being too accommodating to Moscow. Following weekend discussions between US and Ukrainian teams, the plan was trimmed to 20 points.
Ukrainian and European negotiators will now work through these revised proposals, Zelensky told reporters during an online press conference. However, he made clear that significant disagreements remain — particularly over territorial concessions and the nature of international security guarantees.
“We do not like everything in the updated document,” Zelensky said. He stressed that Ukraine is legally and morally prohibited from ceding any territory to Russia. “Under our constitution and under international law, we have no right to do so.”
Washington’s plan reportedly asks Ukraine to surrender land not yet captured by Russian forces in exchange for security assurances — a tradeoff Kyiv says is unacceptable.
“The key is knowing what our partners are prepared to do in the event of new Russian aggression,” Zelensky added. “So far, we have not received an answer.”
Diplomatic Push Continues
Zelensky’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV took place at Castel Gandolfo near Rome. He is expected to meet Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later in the day.
Meloni has been one of Europe’s strongest political backers of Ukraine, though divisions persist within her coalition. Italy has supplied weapons for defensive use inside Ukraine but has rejected proposals to send troops as part of a potential monitoring mission suggested by France and Britain.
Italy recently delayed a decision on renewing military aid beyond December 31, with coalition partner Matteo Salvini reportedly questioning the need for long-term support amid ongoing negotiations. Meloni, however, insisted that Italy would continue helping Ukraine defend itself “as long as there’s a war.”
On Monday, Zelensky met the leaders of Britain, France, Germany, and EU and NATO chiefs. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen reiterated that Ukraine’s sovereignty and long-term security must be safeguarded, calling Ukraine “the first line of defence for our Union.”
French President Emmanuel Macron said Europe is preparing “robust security guarantees and measures for Ukraine’s reconstruction,” noting that the current priority is aligning European and Ukrainian positions with those of the United States.
US Pressure and Russian Stalemate
Since returning to office in January, Trump has sent mixed signals on Ukraine. He has publicly criticised Zelensky for a perceived lack of gratitude toward US support but has also grown frustrated by unsuccessful attempts to persuade Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the war. His administration recently imposed new sanctions on Russian oil firms.
As Kyiv finalises its response to Washington’s revised plan, Zelensky maintains that Ukraine will not accept any settlement that compromises its sovereignty, territorial integrity, or future security.
The coming days are expected to shape the next phase of negotiations — and possibly the trajectory of the nearly three-year-old conflict.
