President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with Pope Leo XIV in Rome, as Ukraine prepares to send updated peace proposals to the United States. This meeting comes just a day after Zelenskyy met with the leaders of Britain, France, and Germany in London. The Ukrainian President expressed his gratitude to the Pope for his support and attention to Ukraine's people, inviting him to visit Ukraine, which would be a powerful sign of solidarity. This meeting is significant as it follows a series of tense interactions between Zelenskyy and former President Donald Trump, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance chastised Zelenskyy for not being grateful enough to the U.S. Despite these challenges, Ukraine remains steadfast in its position, refusing to cede any land to Russia. The Kremlin has illegally annexed parts of Ukraine, including the Donbas region, and Putin demands full control over these territories. However, the U.S. has been working on a peace plan, which has been reduced from 28 points to 20, and Zelenskyy believes in Trump's commitment to ending the war. The Kremlin, however, has not yet been briefed on the recent negotiations between American and Ukrainian officials. Additionally, Zelenskyy has not received a clear answer from his allies about their preparedness in the event of new Russian aggression. Despite the ongoing tensions, there is a focus on strengthening convergence and providing Ukraine with robust security guarantees and measures for reconstruction.
