Volodymyr Zelensky continues his European tour at one of the most delicate times since the Russian invasion. After stops in London and Brussels, the Ukrainian president arrived in Italy today for a double symbolic and political event: in the morning, a meeting with Pope Leo XIV at Castel Gandolfo, and in the afternoon, a meeting at Palazzo Chigi with Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The backdrop is the peace negotiations, pressure from US President Donald Trump, and growing tensions between the United States and Europe over how to manage the crisis.

The European tour before Rome: London, Brussels and the Western Front

Zelensky's day in Rome comes at the end of two crucial stages. On Monday, the Ukrainian leader was in London, where he met with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, the most active group of the so-called "Willing" group, the European front committed to military and political support for Kyiv.

From London, Zelensky flew to Brussels, where he met with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Antonio Costa. He discussed both the military situation on the ground and the new, and still uncertain, phase of talks on a possible truce. On this journey, Rome represents a different yet complementary stage: not only the capital of an important European partner, but also the seat of a unique moral and diplomatic actor, the Vatican.

Arrival at Castel Gandolfo and face-to-face meeting with the Pope

At 9:30 a.m., Zelensky arrived at Castel Gandolfo, the papal residence overlooking the Castelli Romani, where he was received by Pope Leo XIV at Villa Barberini. He was greeted by a guard of Swiss Guards and representatives of the Papal Household. The confidential meeting lasted about half an hour.

Afterward, the two appeared together on the residence's balcony, greeting journalists and photographers without making any statements. A simple gesture, yet one with strong symbolic value: the image of the head of the Catholic Church and the president of a country at war side by side, as the conflict reached day 1.385, sends a message of continued moral and human support for Ukraine.

The Vatican: Dialogue, a Just Peace, and the Return of Children

The Vatican Press Office, in a statement released after the audience, summarized the discussions: the focus, once again, was the war in Ukraine and the search for a "just and lasting peace." Pope Leo XIV, it read, reiterated "the need to continue the dialogue" and expressed a "pressing hope" that the ongoing diplomatic initiatives would lead to a concrete outcome on the negotiating front.

A key point concerned two particularly sensitive issues: prisoners of war and Ukrainian children deported or forcibly transferred to Russia. The Pontiff emphasized "the need to ensure the return of Ukrainian children to their families," a topic he had already addressed in recent weeks when meeting in the Vatican with mothers, wives, and relatives of imprisoned soldiers and minors returning from Russia.

The Ukrainian president's invitation: "Pope Leo in Ukraine would be a powerful signal."

Immediately after the meeting, Zelensky shared his reading of the meeting with X and Telegram. "I invited the Pope to visit Ukraine. It would be a strong signal of support for our people," the president wrote, emphasizing how crucial Kyiv considers the moral role of Leo XIV and the Holy See.

Zelensky thanked the Pontiff for his "constant prayers for Ukraine and the Ukrainian people" and his repeated appeals for a "just peace." He then emphasized the Vatican's "continued humanitarian assistance" and its "willingness to expand humanitarian missions" in the areas most affected by the conflict.

Specifically, the Ukrainian leader explained that he had informed the Pope of "diplomatic efforts with the United States to achieve peace" and discussed "the Vatican's mediation" to bring home the children kidnapped by Russia. "I am grateful to His Holiness for all his efforts to support young Ukrainians," he added, reiterating the centrality of the humanitarian issue in Kyiv's diplomatic strategy.

Symbolic Gestures: The Ukrainian Nativity Scene and the "Fratelli Tutti" Globe

The exchange of gifts between the two leaders helped set the tone for the meeting. Zelensky presented the Pope with a nativity scene crafted in Ukrainian artisanal style, a tribute combining religious tradition and national identity. Leo XIV reciprocated with a bronze plaque depicting children assembling a globe made from puzzle pieces, with the inscription "Fratelli tutti," a reference to his encyclical on universal brotherhood.

The revised peace plan: from 28 to 20 points

While talks with the Pope are underway at Castel Gandolfo, a more tense diplomatic battle is unfolding. Zelensky confirmed that the famous 28-point plan for ending the war, originally proposed by the United States, has been "reduced" to 20 points by Kyiv negotiators. According to Ukrainian media reports, some "obviously anti-Ukrainian points" have been eliminated, deemed unacceptable by Kyiv.

The president explained that there is "slight progress" toward a possible end to the conflict and that the updated plan is expected to be sent to the White House today. Among the suggestions circulating in recent hours is that Ukraine might abandon Donetsk, provided the area does not fall under Moscow's direct control but is transformed into a demilitarized buffer zone under United Nations protection. This solution, at least for now, does not appear to enthuse Washington and remains the subject of intense negotiations.

Trump's pressure and the issue of territorial concessions

Further complicating the situation is US President Donald Trump's stance. Ukrainian sources told Axios that the White House is exerting strong pressure on Kyiv to accept the plan as it stands, including territorial losses and concessions deemed more favorable to Moscow.

Trump took a harsh tone toward the Ukrainian leader, arguing that "when you're losing, you have to start accepting things" and that Ukraine is "losing" the war, having already ceded "a large stretch of coastline" and other "good territory." He also revived the idea that the "time has come" for Kyiv to hold elections, accusing the government of using the war as a "pretext" to postpone the vote, while admitting that he doesn't know who would win and that Zelensky could even be re-elected.

Europe and NATO: "Ukraine is strong on the ground and at the negotiating table."

After meeting with Zelensky in Brussels, Ursula von der Leyen and Antonio Costa reiterated on social media that the European Union "will continue to contribute to all efforts for a just and lasting peace." The goal, they emphasized, is a Ukraine "strong on the battlefield and at the negotiating table," with its sovereignty respected and its long-term security guaranteed as the Union's "first line of defense."

These statements come as tensions are increasingly visible on the transatlantic front: the Washington-Moscow axis is worrying European capitals, and Costa himself has warned that "allies must be allies," rejecting any "interference" in European decisions.

On the other hand, Moscow continues to view Western moves with suspicion. Dmitriev, Vladimir Putin's special representative and head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund, has accused the European Union and the United Kingdom of "sabotaging" the potential peace agreement by convincing Ukraine to continue hostilities.

The Italian line: military support and energy aid to Kyiv

This afternoon, Zelensky was welcomed at Palazzo Chigi by Giorgia Meloni, with whom he had already had a long telephone conversation yesterday and a video conference with other European leaders to review the peace process in light of the latest contacts between American and Ukrainian delegations.

Rome's position remains that of a "just and lasting peace" based on unity of vision between European partners and the United States. Meloni intends to reiterate Italy's military commitment to Zelensky through 2026, although the decree authorizing continued arms supplies has yet to be approved by the Council of Ministers. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, however, assured that the measure "will be implemented" and that "there is no doubt" about Italy's support for Ukraine.

Meanwhile, Palazzo Chigi and the Farnesina are preparing to send generators manufactured by Italian companies to Ukraine, to address the energy emergency caused by Russian attacks on power plants and infrastructure. In her meeting with Zelensky, Meloni already announced the shipment of "emergency supplies to support energy infrastructure and the population."

Zelensky's words on Meloni: "There's still a lot of work to do together."

Zelensky, commenting on X's conversation with the prime minister, described it as a "very thorough discussion" in which "the results of our engagement with the American side, as well as current prospects and challenges, were examined." He thanked Rome for its attention to "diplomatic efforts" and its support for Ukraine's energy infrastructure, emphasizing that "there is still much work to be done together to ensure that Russia is truly committed to ending the war."

According to the Ukrainian president, Italy recognizes "the need for real security and to prevent the outbreak of new wars."

Rome, a crossroads between spiritual diplomacy and geopolitical calculation

Zelensky's day in Rome, suspended between the moral embrace of Pope Leo XIV and the political pragmatism of Palazzo Chigi, highlights the hybrid nature of this phase of the conflict: no longer just a war of position on the ground, but a war of proposals, draft agreements, "revised plans," and cross-pressure on who will ultimately sign the compromise.

The Holy See insists on a "just and lasting peace" that doesn't reduce negotiations to a mere surrender of the weakest, and places invisible victims at the center, starting with prisoners and deported children. Europe asserts its support for Kyiv and its leaders, rejecting the image of a "weak" continent lacking strategy. Washington, and Trump in particular, is instead pushing for a solution that shortens the timeframe and effectively consolidates Moscow's territorial gains, even at the cost of asking Zelensky for sacrifices that will be difficult for its own public to accept.