Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with Pope Leo XIV on Tuesday at Castel Gandolfo as he prepared to send Washington revised proposals aimed at ending Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Earlier, Zelensky held talks with European leaders in London and Brussels, navigating pressure from US President Donald Trump for a settlement. Trump has criticized Zelensky for not fully reviewing the US administration’s initial 28-point plan, which Ukraine and its allies deemed overly favorable to Russia.
After weekend discussions with the US, the plan has been reduced from 28 to 20 points, which Ukrainian and European officials are now reviewing. “We do not agree with everything our partners have proposed, particularly regarding Russia, but we will work on it and submit our response to the US,” Zelensky said.
The US plan involves Ukraine potentially surrendering territory not yet captured by Russia in exchange for security assurances that fall short of Kyiv’s NATO aspirations. Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has no legal or moral right to cede territory and that the main issue remains the strength of international security guarantees against future Russian aggression.
In Italy, Zelensky also met with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, a staunch supporter of Ukraine. Meloni’s coalition partner, Matteo Salvini, has expressed skepticism about continued military aid, though Italy has already provided weapons for use inside Ukraine and ruled out sending troops for a proposed monitoring mission.
On Monday, Zelensky’s meetings in London included leaders from Britain, France, and Germany, followed by discussions in Brussels with EU and NATO officials. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen stressed that Ukraine’s sovereignty must be respected and its security guaranteed as a first line of defense for Europe.
French President Emmanuel Macron highlighted the need to align the European-Ukrainian position with that of the United States while preparing robust security guarantees and reconstruction measures for Ukraine.
Since returning to office, Trump has alternated between criticizing and supporting Zelensky, citing frustration over failed efforts to persuade Russia to end the war and imposing sanctions on Russian oil companies.
