Zelenskyy refuses to cede land to Russia as he rallies European support

The Ukrainian president met early on Tuesday with Pope Leo at Castel Gandolfo, a papal residence outside Rome

The Ukrainian president made his remarks in a WhatsApp chat in which he was answering reporters’ questions (Toby Melville/Pool Photo via AP)

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy has reaffirmed his refusal to cede any territory, resisting US pressure for a compromise with Russia as he continued to rally European support for Ukraine.

“Undoubtedly, Russia insists for us to give up territories. We, clearly, don’t want to give up anything. That’s what we are fighting for,” Mr Zelenskyy said in a WhatsApp chat late on Monday in which he answered reporters’ questions.