Zelensky: Putin will give a standing ovation if Biden doesn’t come to the Peace Summit
28 May 2024 13:57
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy believes that the Kremlin would very much like US President Joe Biden to ignore the Peace Summit in Switzerland. Zelenskyy said this during a briefing in Brussels, according to "Komersant Ukrainian"
Zelenskyy said that he would very much like the president to attend the summit in Switzerland on behalf of the US. However, it is known that Biden is going to be raising funds for his election campaign at this time.
“I know that America supports the summit, but we don’t know at what level. I think this is not a very strong decision, with all due respect to every person in the United States of America,”
– Zelenskyy said.
However, the presence of the US President is essential at this event, according to the President of Ukraine:
“I believe that President Biden is needed by the Peace Summit, by other leaders who are looking at the reaction of the United States of America. His absence will only be applauded by Putin, personally applauded by Putin, and he will be standing.”
Zelenskyy added that Ukraine is also waiting for a response from China, Brazil and some African countries on their attendance at the summit. However, China and Brazil are already voicing an alternative initiative.
Global peace summit
The Peace Summit, to be held on 15-16 June in Switzerland, is intended to accelerate the coming of a just peace for Ukraine. Ukraine hopes that 80-100 countries will take part in the event. According to the Swiss Foreign Ministry, more than 160 delegations have been invited to the peace summit.
Among the invitees are members of the G7, G20, BRICS, numerous other countries from all continents, as well as the EU, three international organisations (UN, OSCE and Council of Europe) and two religious representatives (Vatican and Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople).
Switzerland emphasises that the summit will build on the discussions that have taken place in recent months, including the Ukrainian peace formula and other peace proposals based on the UN Charter and key principles of international law. The main goal of the summit is to inspire the future peace process. To achieve this, the Summit intends to
- provide a platform for dialogue on how to achieve a comprehensive, just and lasting peace for Ukraine based on international law and the UN Charter;
- promote a common understanding of a possible framework for achieving this goal;
- jointly define a roadmap on how to engage both sides in the future peace process.
What does the Ukrainian “peace formula” envisage?
on 11 October 2022, President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced to the leaders of the G7 countries a “peace formula” to overcome the Russian threat. It includes the withdrawal of Russian troops and the cessation of hostilities, defence support for Ukraine, protection of its territorial integrity, and punishment for those responsible for armed aggression. The formula also provides for counteracting ecocide and recording the end of the war.
In turn, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia would not negotiate on the basis of Zelenskyy’s “peace formula”.
