U.S. President Joe Biden will not attend the upcoming Ukraine Peace Summit in Switzerland, a decision that Volodymyr Zelenskiy has described as a gift to Russia.
Instead, Vice President Kamala Harris and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will represent the U.S. during the two-day event in Lucerne starting June 15, the White House said in a statement Monday.
“The Vice President will underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s effort to secure a just and lasting peace, based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principles of the U.N. Charter,” the White House said.
The Ukrainians had hoped that Biden would put in an appearance, given his plans to attend France’s D-Day anniversary celebrations and a meeting of G7 leaders in Italy in the days leading up to the summit.
According to Zelenskiy’s office, Ukraine has already secured promises from more than 100 countries to attend the peace summit in Lucerne.
Some key countries, including China, refused to come, citing the absence of a representative from the Russian Federation during the summit, the BBC reported in late May.
Speaking at a press conference Brussels last week, Zelenskiy said, “I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the U.S.’s reaction.”
The U.S. president’s absence “would only be met by an applause by Putin — a personal, standing applause,” he added.
Switzerland will host the summit on June 15-16 that aims to build broad international support for Volodymyr Zelenskiy's peace proposals, which includes the full withdrawal of Russian troops from Ukraine, but Moscow has not been invited.
Tajikistan, Kazakhstan discuss cooperation in the field of digitalization
US suspends a number of food assistance program in Afghanistan over fears of Taliban diversion
Import taxes set by the United States on Chinese goods rise to at least 104 percent
Schoolchildren from Tajikistan invited to participate in the international IT Olympiad
The prime minister inspects a number of construction sites in Khatlon province
A fire occurred in a high-rise building in Dushanbe: six people evacuated, no injured reported
China supports Russia in hosting trilateral consultations on Iranian nuclear issue, says China’s FM spokesperson
An avalanche occurred in GBAO’s Rushan district: the Dushanbe-Khorog highway is temporarily closed
The White House announces a military budget of about US$1 trillion
DUMK supports the ban on wearing "foreign" niqabs
All news
Авторизуйтесь, пожалуйста