KYIV (Reuters) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday called on U.S. President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to attend an upcoming peace summit, as Ukraine struggles to fend off a 27-month-old Russian merciless attacks in the invasion.
Moscow’s military has made advances on the battlefield and stepped up airstrikes on cities in recent weeks, and Kiev hopes a meeting in Switzerland in June will help build international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Zelensky said in an English-language video recorded in the charred remains of a printing press destroyed in a Russian airstrike on Thursday that the summit would “show who in the world really wants to end the war.”
“I appeal to world leaders who are still participating in the global effort at the Global Peace Summit, including the leader of the United States, President Biden, and the leader of China, President Xi,” he said.
“Please show your leadership in advancing peace – real peace, not just a pause between strikes.
Russia said it saw no point in current meetings to which Moscow was not invited.
Zelenskiy’s comments came two days after Russian sources told Reuters that Putin was prepared to stop the war in Ukraine by negotiating a ceasefire that recognized current battle lines.
Zelensky and supporters of Ukraine say a ceasefire would only help Russia rearm and reorganize.
Russia has made slow but steady progress in several areas on its vast eastern front in recent months and is trying to penetrate deep into the northeastern region of Kharkov after launching a ground invasion earlier this month.
In an interview with Reuters last week, Zelensky said it was crucial to involve as many countries as possible in peace talks. Putin said he believed the talks could turn Ukraine’s demands for a Russian troop withdrawal into an ultimatum to Russia.
