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The president of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, reaffirmed that his country will not cede any territory to Russia and announced that he is preparing a new peace plan with the support of European leaders, amid negotiations led by Washington to end more than three years of war.
“Ukraine has no right to give away anything, neither under national law, nor international law, nor moral grounds,” stated the leader during a meeting in London with the British Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer; the French President, Emmanuel Macron; and the German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz.
Zelenski insisted that any territorial concession “would jeopardize the sovereignty of the country and the future security of Europe,” in response to pressures from the administration of Donald Trump, which seeks to finalize a peace agreement with the Kremlin by the end of the year.
The first draft of the plan, which was leaked weeks ago, was rejected by Kiev and several European capitals for including Russian demands, such as the cession of the Donbas region and Ukraine's commitment not to join NATO.
According to diplomatic sources quoted by the agency Interfax-Ucrania, the new version would reduce the document from 28 to 20 points, but it retains the “pro-Ukrainian” positions unchanged.
Zelenski confirmed that his team will send a revised proposal to the White House in the coming days and assured that he has had “constructive, albeit difficult, conversations” with the U.S. peace envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, the son-in-law of President Trump.
After the meeting in London, the Ukrainian leader traveled to Brussels to meet with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, seeking political and economic support for his plan. This Tuesday, Zelenski also held another meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.
Additionally, during his European tour, Zelensky was received in audience by Pope León XIV at the Vatican, where he expressed gratitude for the "constant prayers for Ukraine and its people," as well as for the pontiff's calls for a "just peace."
The head of state informed the Pope about the diplomatic efforts with the United States to reach an agreement and highlighted the Holy See's willingness to expand its humanitarian missions, particularly in mediating the return of Ukrainian children kidnapped by Russia.
"I invited the Holy Father to visit Ukraine; it would be a powerful sign of support for our people," the president wrote on social media platform X.
Meanwhile, the fighting continues on the eastern front. Moscow claimed to have taken the strategic city of Pokrovsk in Donetsk, although Kiev denied this version, showing images of its troops still engaged in combat.
The head of the Russian General Staff, Valeri Gerásimov, assured that Kremlin forces are advancing towards Myrnohrad, while Ukraine reports drone and missile attacks against electrical infrastructures in the north and west of the country.
Zelenski reiterated that any modification of Ukraine's borders must be subjected to a national referendum and warned that "giving up territory would betray the soldiers and citizens who have been resisting since 2022."
"We want peace, but not at any cost," emphasized the Ukrainian president, as Europe positions itself as his main ally amid pressures from Washington and demands from the Kremlin.
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