Ukraine Stands Firm: Zelenskyy Refuses to Surrender Land Amid Mounting Pressure
ROME — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has once again made it crystal clear: he will not relinquish any Ukrainian territory to Russia, despite intense pressure from the United States for a difficult compromise. At the same time, he has been actively rallying European leaders to bolster support for his country’s stance.
"Russia is undoubtedly demanding that we give up land. But we are steadfast — we will not surrender a single inch. That’s the heart of what we are defending," Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp conversation with reporters late Monday.
He added, "Do we even consider giving up any territory? According to our laws, we have no right to do so. Our constitution, international law, and, frankly, our moral compass all forbid it."
Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV early Tuesday at Castel Gandolfo, the papal summer residence near Rome. Later, he was scheduled to hold discussions with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The Vatican emphasized that Pope Leo "reiterated the importance of continued dialogue and expressed an urgent hope that current diplomatic efforts will lead to a just and lasting peace."
While the Holy See has maintained a neutral stance in the conflict, it has consistently extended solidarity and aid to what it describes as the "suffering people of Ukraine." Pope Leo has now met Zelenskyy three times and has also spoken by phone with Russian President Vladimir Putin, advocating for a ceasefire and urging Russia to take meaningful steps toward peace.
Earlier, on Monday, Zelenskyy met in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. The goal: to strengthen Ukraine's negotiating position as impatience grows from U.S. President Donald Trump.
The U.S. Pressure and Zelenskyy’s Defiance
U.S. and Ukrainian officials wrapped up three days of talks on Saturday aimed at narrowing differences over a U.S.-proposed peace plan. The most contentious point remains the suggestion that Kyiv should cede control of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine to Russia — a move that Ukraine and its European allies firmly reject.
Trump has expressed frustration, stating Sunday that Zelenskyy "hasn’t yet read the proposal." His stance toward the Ukrainian leader has been inconsistent, criticizing the war as a misuse of U.S. taxpayer funds while urging Ukraine to give up territory to end the nearly four-year conflict.
Responding to this pressure, Zelenskyy explained Monday, "Trump certainly wants to end the war, and he has his own perspective. But we live here, and we experience the nuances and complexities firsthand because this is our homeland."
He noted that the current U.S. proposal differs from previous versions, now containing 20 points instead of 28, after removing some "obviously anti-Ukrainian" measures.
Europe’s Solid Support
European leaders have voiced strong backing for Kyiv. Starmer emphasized that peace efforts are at a "critical stage" and stressed the importance of a "just and enduring ceasefire." Merz expressed skepticism about certain aspects of the U.S. plan, stating, "We need to discuss this, and that’s why we are here. The coming days could be decisive for all of us."
Europe aims to ensure that any ceasefire is reinforced with concrete security guarantees from both European nations and the U.S., to prevent further Russian aggression — guarantees Trump has not publicly committed to.
Zelenskyy and European allies have repeatedly accused Putin of deliberately dragging out negotiations while continuing the invasion, as Russian forces make incremental advances and conduct missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure.
Escalating Drone and Air Strikes
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 110 drones across the country overnight, with air defenses intercepting 84 and 24 striking their intended targets. Some regions faced emergency blackouts Tuesday due to damage to energy infrastructure, according to Ukraine’s national energy operator, Ukrenergo.
Ukraine has continued retaliatory drone attacks against Russia. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported intercepting 121 Ukrainian drones over various Russian regions and occupied Crimea overnight. In Chuvashia, about 900 kilometers northeast of Ukraine’s border, strikes damaged residential buildings and injured nine people, local officials said.
On Dec. 5, Ukraine’s Security Service targeted an LPG terminal at Temryuk port in Russia’s Krasnodar region. An official familiar with the operation told The Associated Press, on condition of anonymity, that the strike ignited a large fire affecting over 20 LPG storage tanks for more than three days, and damaged railway tank cars, a refueling tank, and a loading/unloading rack.
And this is the part most people miss: While international discussions focus on peace proposals and territorial concessions, the conflict continues to escalate on the ground. Who will compromise first — or will Ukraine’s steadfastness redefine the limits of international diplomacy?
Novikov reported from Kyiv, Ukraine.
