SINGAPORE: Ahead of an upcoming peace summit in Switzerland, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has urged world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and China’s President Xi Jinping, to show their support amid the country’s war with Russia.
“There is no nation that can stop such war alone, unaided – world leaders’ engagement is needed,” said Zelenskyy in a video in English on Friday (May 24), standing among the ruins of one of Ukraine’s largest publishing houses struck by Russian missiles.
The summit, hosted by Switzerland, will take place on Jun 15 and Jun 16.
In the video, he noted that more than 80 countries have confirmed their attendance and that “we continue to work with the leaders, inviting them to join the summit”.
Swiss President Viola Amherd on May 15 said 160 invitations were sent, adding that countries in South America, Africa and the Middle East were among those to have confirmed their attendance, reported Reuters.
“And I am appealing to the leaders of the world who are still aside from the global efforts of the global peace summit – to President Biden, the leader of the United States, and to President Xi, the leader of China,” said Zelenskyy.
“Please, show your leadership in advancing the peace – the real peace and not just a pause between the strikes. The efforts of the global majority are the best guarantee that all commitments will be fulfilled. Please support the peace summit with your personal leadership and participation,” he added.
According to a Bloomberg report on Friday, Biden is likely to miss the summit as he has to attend a campaign fundraiser in California.
But a US official said on Sunday that the United States will participate in the summit, without indicating who or at what level will be there.
China earlier said in a joint statement with Brazil that it supports “an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognised by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans”.
Russia said earlier this month that it was not invited to the summit and also saw no point in the event.
On Sunday, a Russian strike on a crowded DIY hardware store in Kharkiv killed 12 people and wounded dozens more, as the country’s second-largest city reeled from two attacks a day earlier.