US Vice President Kamala Harris is gearing up for a significant trip to Switzerland next week. The purpose? To take part in a crucial summit aimed at finding a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.
Accompanying her will be Jake Sullivan, the US National Security Advisor. The Summit on Peace in Ukraine is scheduled for June 15-16 in Lucerne, Switzerland.
The absence of US President Joe Biden from the summit has raised eyebrows. Instead, he is slated to attend a high-profile fundraising event for his 2024 reelection campaign in Los Angeles.
However, President Biden remains engaged with the issue, as confirmed by his invitation from Ukraine President Vladamir Zelenskyy to the event. The fundraiser, featuring luminaries like Barack Obama, George Clooney, and Julia Roberts, will be moderated by Jimmy Kimmel.
Despite Biden’s absence, Harris and Sullivan aim to underline the US’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s quest for peace. They will emphasize the importance of upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, aligning with the principles of the UN Charter.
John Kirby, the National Security Communications Advisor, stressed that the conflict could end swiftly if Russian President Vladimir Putin withdrew his forces from Ukraine. However, until then, the US and its allies will continue supporting Ukraine’s defense efforts.
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Zelenskyy, who recently attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, accused China of pressuring other countries not to participate in the peace summit. Despite this, Ukraine has secured confirmation of participation from 106 countries.
Meanwhile, Russia maintains that any peace talks concerning Ukraine should include them. However, they have not received an invitation to the summit. Russian Ambassador to London, Andrey Kelin, expressed readiness for talks but cited Ukraine’s lack of willingness as a barrier.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested China could facilitate a Russia-Ukraine peace conference. However, China declined to attend the Switzerland summit, citing concerns about the exclusion of Russia and Ukraine in equal participation and fair discussion.
The proposed peace talks, championed by Zelenskyy, aim to unify international opinion on resolving the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Since its inception in February 2022, the conflict has inflicted heavy damage on infrastructure and caused civilian casualties in both countries. As tensions persist, the world watches closely, hoping for a breakthrough towards lasting peace.
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