Zelensky To Attend G7 Summit Amid Rising Tensions
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is set to attend the upcoming G7 summit in Italy, scheduled for June, either online or in person. This announcement comes amidst increasing global tensions and a focus on providing additional aid to Ukraine through the use of interests in frozen Russian assets. The G7 summit will be held in southern Italy from June 13 to 15, focusing on various strategies to combat the ongoing Russian offensive. Zelensky's spokesperson, Serguiï Nikiforov, confirmed the president's participation, emphasizing the certainty of his presence.
One critical agenda point for the summit is to enhance financial and economic sanctions against Russia. The G7 finance ministers expressed their determination to continue targeting Russia's energy revenues, thereby limiting its ability to finance its invasion of Ukraine. Additionally, concerns about North Korea and Russia's military cooperation were raised, with G7 countries urging Pyongyang to halt its illegal arms transfers.
Peace Summit in Switzerland
Volodymyr Zelensky is also deeply involved in the preparations for the Peace Summit on Ukraine, scheduled for June 15 and 16 in Switzerland. However, the Peace Summit faces challenges, with China accused of attempting to prevent countries from participating due to Russia's exclusion. Despite these hurdles, more than a hundred countries and organizations have committed to attending the summit. The Ukrainian president has been actively traveling to gather support, visiting several European capitals as well as Singapore and the Philippines.
In a statement, Zelensky expressed disappointment over some world leaders, including US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, not yet committing to the summit. China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Mao Ning, highlighted the discrepancies between the summit's arrangements and China's expectations, making it difficult for China to participate. Moscow has echoed Beijing's statements, further complicating the summit's organization.
Zelensky's recent meeting with US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin was described as 'very good.' The US has shown unwavering support, with President Joe Biden greenlighting the usage of American-supplied weapons by Kyiv to target specific Russian assets. However, Ukraine continues to face challenges in the northeastern Kharkiv region, where Russia has made significant territorial advances.
- Pentagon spokesperson **General Pat Ryder** reiterated the United States' steadfast support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression. In recent days, Zelensky has visited several European countries to secure more military aid, emphasizing the necessity of maintaining strong defenses against ongoing Russian attacks.
