KYIV, Ukraine, May 26, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr
Zelensky on Sunday urged US President Joe Biden and China's President Xi
Jinping to attend a peace summit in Switzerland next month.

The Ukrainian leader made the request in English in an emotive video showing
him standing in front of ruins in the heavily bombarded eastern city of
Kharkiv.

"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," Zelensky said.

"Please support the peace summit with your personal leadership and
participation," he asked.

Zelensky said that the leaders should attend because "the efforts of the
global majority are the best guarantee that all commitments will be
fulfilled".

He also said he wanted the attendance of leaders "whom Russia will not be
able to deceive".
 
The conference on the Ukraine war is to be held at a luxury resort near
Lucerne from June 15-16.

The Swiss government is hosting the event at Ukraine's request.

It has said it has invited 160 delegations but Russia will not attend the
event, which is expected to last just over a day.
 
Biden's presence has not been confirmed, while organisers say countries
participating include members of the G7, the G20 and the BRICS group.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month "they are not
inviting us", adding that Russia would not push to attend an event where it
is unwelcome.

China restated its position this week, saying 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".
 
Xi is Putin's strategic ally, and the Russian leader made a trip to China
after re-election this month.

US officials said last month that Beijing is helping Russia with military
expansion, including joint production of drones, while stopping short of
directly providing weapons to Russia for use in Ukraine.

Zelensky said "more than 80 countries confirmed they will come" to the summit
and Ukraine was continuing efforts to invite leaders.