President of Ukraine Zelenskyy Calls US and Chinese Leaders to Global Peace Summit in Switzerland

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on the leaders of the United States and China to personally attend the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland. He said that more than 80 countries had already confirmed their attendance at the event. Zelenskyy made the call in a video message released on Sunday, which was recorded in a printing house in Kharkiv that was destroyed by a Russian missile strike.

Zelenskyy said that Russia is trying to normalise what it is doing to Ukraine, and no country can stop such aggression without help. He also reminded that Ukraine already has the "richest experience in the world" of listening to Russia's lies during negotiations. 

"That is why we need global efforts. A global peace summit of leaders whom Russia cannot deceive... More than 80 countries have already confirmed their participation, and we continue to work with leaders, inviting them to join," Zelenskyy said.  

"I call on the global leaders who are still away from the global efforts of the summit - US President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Please show leadership in promoting peace. Real peace, not the kind that will become a pause between blows... Support the peace summit with your personal leadership and participation," the President of Ukraine added.

The Ukrainian Peace Summit will take place on 15 and 16 June at the five-star Bürgenstock Hotel by the Lake in Lucerne, central Switzerland. Among the high-profile participants are European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, European Council President Charles Michel, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and French President Emmanuel Macron. The Ecumenical Patriarchate will also be represented, as well as at least two African countries - Malawi and Cape Verde.