Harris stepping in for Biden at Ukraine summit as she takes growing role in heat of 2024 campaign

WASHINGTON (AP) — It’s Vice President Kamala Harris, not President Joe Biden, who will join world leaders in Switzerland on Saturday and meet one-on-one with Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskyy to discuss his country’s vision for ending the grinding war launched by Russia.

Biden on Friday wrapped up three days at the Group of Seven summit in Italy, where he held talks with Zelenskyy, and then flew straight to Los Angeles for a Saturday night fundraiser with Hollywood A-listers George Clooney and Julia Roberts.

His decision to skip this weekend’s summit on Ukraine spotlights the competing election-year demands facing Biden as he tries to balance a complicated domestic and foreign policy agenda while running against former President Donald Trump. It also reflects the growing profile Harris has found making the case for a second Biden term as the 2024 campaign heats up.

“Being vice president means you take a lot of hits for the team,” Matt Bennett, who served as an aide to former Vice President Al Gore, said ahead of Harris’ scheduled 28-hour dash from Washington to Switzerland and back. “In the past, these moments on the global stage have been good for her. She looks presidential and very capable among world leaders.”

<bsp-list-loadmore data-module="" class=«PageListStandardB» data-gtm-region=«RELATED COVERAGE» data-gtm-topic=«No Value» data-show-loadmore=«true» data-gtm-modulestyle=«List B»> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> RELATED COVERAGE </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> World leaders to meet at Swiss resort on possible Ukraine peace roadmap. Russia is notably absent </bsp-custom-headline> <bsp-custom-headline custom-headline=«div»> Ukraine employs a flexible defense while waiting