Washington, D.C.: Vice President Kamala Harris is set to travel to Lucerne, Switzerland next week for the Summit on Peace in Ukraine, as announced by the White House. The summit aims to facilitate discussions on achieving lasting peace in Ukraine. Joining Harris at the event will be US National Security Advisor, Jake Sullivan.
Contrary to expectations, President Joe Biden will not attend the two-day summit. The reason behind his absence is his scheduled participation in a star-studded fundraising event for his 2024 re-election campaign in Los Angeles. Hollywood Reporter reveals that Biden will engage in a conversation moderated by Jimmy Kimmel, alongside former President Barack Obama, with special guests George Clooney and Julia Roberts.
During the Switzerland summit, Vice President Harris and Sullivan will emphasize the significance of continued support from countries to aid Ukraine in its pursuit of a just and lasting peace. Addressing reporters at a White House press gaggle, National Security Communications Advisor John Kirby emphasized the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to upholding Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial integrity, and the principles enshrined in the UN Charter.
Kirby stated that if Russian President Vladimir Putin were to withdraw his forces from Ukraine, the war could end promptly. Until then, the United States, along with its allies and partners, will continue to stand by Ukraine and support their efforts in defending themselves against aggression.
Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had expressed disappointment over Biden’s absence, suggesting it would be perceived as a personal victory for Putin. However, Kirby clarified that the United States has consistently participated in previous Ukraine peace summits and remains a staunch supporter of Zelenskyy’s peace deal.
Notably, Russia, which has not been invited to the summit, insists that any talks concerning peace in Ukraine should involve their participation. Zelenskyy, who attended the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, accused China of pressuring other countries’ leaders not to attend the peace conference, thereby attempting to disrupt it. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba affirmed that despite these efforts, 106 countries have confirmed their participation in the summit.
In an interview with Turkey’s TRT World television, Russian Ambassador to London Andrey Kelin expressed readiness for talks but claimed to see no willingness from Ukraine to engage in negotiations. He cited Ukrainian laws and decrees that seemingly prohibit such negotiations. Additionally, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that China could potentially facilitate a Russia-Ukraine peace conference, emphasizing the need to address the root causes of the conflict and protect the legal interests of all parties involved.
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However, China has decided not to attend the Switzerland summit. During a press briefing, the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning stated that the meeting’s arrangement did not align with China’s stance and the international community’s expectations regarding equal participation of Russia and Ukraine and fair discussions of all proposed peace plans.
Lavrov also criticized the United States for supporting Ukraine, accusing Washington of being complicit in Kiev’s actions. The proposed peace talks, hosted by Switzerland, were initiated by Zelenskyy with the aim of unifying international opinions on ending the war. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, which commenced on February 24, 2022, has endured for over three years, resulting in significant damage to infrastructure and numerous civilian casualties in both countries.
