Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Rome on Tuesday as he continued his efforts to secure European support for Ukraine while firmly resisting pressure from the United States to reach a potentially detrimental compromise with Russia. On Monday, President Zelenskyy met in London with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to bolster Ukraine’s position amid growing impatience from U.S. President Donald Trump.
During his visit, President Zelenskyy arrived at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence located outside Rome, where he met with Pope Leo XIV. He also had conversations with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. In response to reporters’ inquiries via WhatsApp late Monday, President Zelenskyy reaffirmed his steadfast refusal to cede any territory, stating, “We clearly do not wish to give up anything.” He candidly acknowledged, even if “the Americans are seeking a compromise today, I must be honest.”
Furthermore, he noted, “Russia is undoubtedly insisting that we cede territories. According to both our national laws and international law, we do not possess the right to do so. To be frank, we also do not have a moral right to make such concessions.”
Trump’s pressure
U.S. and Ukrainian negotiators recently concluded three days of discussions aimed at reconciling differences regarding the U.S. administration’s peace proposal. A significant point of contention is the suggestion that Kyiv should cede control of the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine to Russia, which currently occupies a substantial portion of that territory illegally. Both Ukraine and its European allies have firmly opposed any notion of territorial concessions.
In a statement to reporters on Sunday night, President Trump expressed frustration with President Zelenskyy, asserting that the Ukrainian leader has “not yet read the proposal.” The relationship between Trump and Zelenskyy has been variable since Trump’s re-election, with Trump characterising the ongoing conflict as a misallocation of U.S. taxpayer funds. He has consistently urged Ukraine to consider ceding territory to Russia as a means to resolve the nearly four-year conflict.
In response, President Zelenskyy emphasised on Monday that while Trump “certainly wants to end the war,” he possesses his own perspective on the situation. Zelenskyy noted, “We live here and perceive the details and nuances of this conflict more deeply, as this is our homeland.” Furthermore, he indicated that the current U.S. peace plan has evolved to include 20 points, down from 28, following the removal of certain provisions perceived as unfavourable to Ukraine.
Europeans back Ukraine
On Monday, Starmer, Macron, and Merz expressed strong support for Kyiv, highlighting that the pursuit of peace is currently at a “critical stage.” The U.K. leader emphasised the need to establish “a just and lasting ceasefire.” Merz voiced his scepticism regarding specific details outlined in documents released by the U.S., stating, “We must engage in dialogue. That is the purpose of our gathering.” He further remarked that the upcoming days could prove to be pivotal for all parties involved.
European leaders are working diligently to ensure that any ceasefire is accompanied by robust security guarantees from both Europe and the United States to deter further aggression by Russia. In contrast to some leaders, Trump has not made explicit guarantees in public statements. Zelenskyy, along with his European allies, has repeatedly accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of delaying negotiations to further the invasion. At the same time, his forces continue to make slow but steady advances, launching waves of missiles and drones against Ukrainian infrastructure.
Russia and Ukraine exchange aerial strikes
Ukraine’s Air Force reported that Russia launched 110 drones last night, with air defences neutralising 84. However, 24 drones reached their targets, leading to emergency power outages in several regions, according to Ukrenergo.
In response to these developments, Ukraine has continued its drone operations against Russian targets. According to reports from Russia’s Ministry of Defence, their air defence forces intercepted 121 Ukrainian drones overnight over various regions within Russia and occupied Crimea.
In the Chuvashia region, located approximately 900 kilometres northeast of the Ukrainian border, an attack resulted in damage to residential buildings and injuries to nine individuals, as stated by local governor Oleg Nikolayev in an official online statement.
Additionally, on 5 December, Ukraine’s Security Service executed a drone operation targeting an LPG terminal at the port of Temryuk in Russia’s Krasnodar region. An official with knowledge of the operation—who requested anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter—told The Associated Press that the strike resulted in a significant fire at the facility.
More than 20 LPG storage tanks were set ablaze, with the fire persisting for over three days. The operation also caused damage to railway tank cars, an intermediate refuelling tank, and a loading and unloading rack.
This article used information from The Associated Press.
