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Zelensky presses Biden to attend peace summit
The Straits Times
|May 30, 2024
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on May 28 urged US leader Joe Biden to attend a June peace summit in Switzerland, as he accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of trying to derail the gathering.
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His appeal came as he locked in a commitment from Belgium to supply 30 F-16 fighter jets by 2028, on the latest leg of a whistle-stop tour to rally Western support.
Ukraine is pushing to whip up attendance at the peace talks in June, and hopes to win broad international backing for its vision of the terms needed to end Russia's war.
But the meeting threatens to be overshadowed if key Ukraine backer, Mr Biden locked in campaigning against Donald Trump and has given no sign he would participate ultimately stays away.
"If (Mr Biden) is not present, it will be just like applauding Putin: personally applauding and doing so standing," Mr Zelensky said, at a press conference alongside Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo.
The Ukrainian leader said Mr Putin was "very scared" of the peace summit and was trying to derail the event set for June 15 and 16.
"He has been trying to thwart this summit and continues to do so," said Mr Zelensky, who has ruled out Russian participation in the gathering.
This story is from the May 30, 2024 edition of The Straits Times.
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