The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused, on Sunday June 2, China of working to ” to prevent “ countries to participate in a peace summit on Ukraine, which Beijing has criticized, because Russia is not invited. China has announced that its president, Xi Jinping, will not participate in this summit and the American president, Joe Biden, has not yet committed to it.
“We are disappointed that some world leaders have not yet confirmed their participation in the peace summit”declared Mr. Zelensky on the sidelines of a security forum in Singapore, without mentioning China or the United States by name.
More than a hundred countries and organizations have committed to participating in this summit, called the “High-level Conference on Peace in Ukraine”, which is to be held on June 15 and 16 in Switzerland, said Mr. Zelensky. , urging countries in the Asia-Pacific region to join.
China estimated on Friday that it would be ” difficult “ to participate in this summit if Russia is not invited, a declaration approved by Moscow. “There is a clear disconnect between the arrangements made for the conference on the one hand and China’s demands and the general expectations of the international community on the other, which makes it difficult for China to participate.”declared Friday Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. “Otherwise, the conference will hardly be able to play a substantial role in the return of peace”she added during a press briefing.
“Unwavering support from the United States”
The Ukrainian leader met earlier Sunday with US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, a meeting he described as ” very good “. Mr. Zelensky greeted Friday ” one step forward “following the green light given by the United States to the use by kyiv of weapons supplied by the Americans to strike, under conditions, targets on Russian soil.
Ukraine is struggling to contain a Russian ground offensive in the Kharkiv oblast (North-East), where Moscow recently made its biggest territorial advances in eighteen months.
In a communication on After his meeting with Mr. Austin, Mr. Zelensky said the two men discussed “the defense needs of [l’Ukraine]strengthening Ukraine’s air defense system, the F-16 coalition and drafting a bilateral security agreement ».
Pentagon spokesman General Pat Ryder said in a briefing that Mr. Austin had reiterated “the unwavering support of the United States for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression”.
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On the last day of this annual defense summit, against a backdrop of tensions around Taiwan and the South China Sea, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun warned that Beijing would act “with determination and strength” to prevent Taiwan’s independence while demanding more military communications with the United States.
“We have always been open to exchanges and cooperation, but this requires both sides to meet each other halfway”said Mr. Dong, who met Mr. Austin on Friday, their first direct meeting in eighteen months. “We believe we need more exchanges precisely because there are differences between our two armies”he added.
After their meeting Friday, Austin said telephone conversations between U.S. and Chinese military commanders would resume. ” in the coming months “.