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Dec 9, 2025
Zelenskyy refuses to cede land to Russia as he rallies European support
ABC News
ROME -- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with the pope near Rome on Tuesday as he continued to rally European support for Ukraine while resisting U.S. pressure for a painful compromise with Russia.
Answering reporters' questions in a WhatsApp chat, Zelenskyy reaffimed his firm refusal to cede any territory, saying that "we clearly don't want to give up anything," even as "the Americans are looking for a compromise today, I will be honest."
"Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories," he said in the message late Monday. "According to the law we don't have such right. According to Ukraine's law, our constitution, international law, and to be frank, we don't have a moral right either."
The Ukrainian president met early Tuesday with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence outside Rome, and is to have talks with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni later. Zelenskyy and the Vatican didn't comment on what was discussed.
The Holy See has tried to remain neutral in the war while offering solidarity and assistance to what it calls the "martyred" people of Ukraine. Leo has met now three times with Zelenskyy and has spoken by telephone at least once with Russian President Vladimir Putin. The American pope has called for a ceasefire and urged Russia in particular to make gestures to promote peace.
On Monday, Zelenskyy held talks in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to strengthen Ukraine's hand amid mounting impatience from U.S. President Donald Trump.
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators completed three days of talks on Saturday aimed at trying to narrow differences on the U.S. administration's peace proposal.
A major sticking point in the plan is the suggestion that Kyiv must cede control of the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine to Russia, which illegally occupies most but not all of the territory. Ukraine and its European allies have firmly resisted the idea of h
