Zelensky urges Biden to attend Ukraine peace summit – saying only Putin would applaud him staying away

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Joe Biden to attend an upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland, saying that only Vladimir Putin will “applaud” him if he does not show up.

Though the Biden administration has been a staunch supporter of Kyiv, reports suggest President Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris are set to miss the summit, which would be a huge blow to Mr Zelensky – even if some form of presence from Washington is expected.

The move has raised concern about Mr Biden’s shifting interests ahead of the US presidential election, where he will face off against former president Donald Trump.

More than 80 countries will attend the two-day summit in Switzerland, which takes place on 15 and 16 June, but major players on the global stage, including China and the US, have declined to attend, while Russia has not been invited.

The aim of the summit is to bring heads of state and government together to try and chart a course for a “just and lasting peace” in Ukraine based upon the principles of the UN Charter and Ukraine’s own ‘Formula for Peace’, which Mr Zelensky presented in November 2020.

“I would want President Biden to be personally present. I know that America supports the summit but we do not know on which level,” said Mr Zelensky during a press conference in Brussels.

“I think that is not a strong decision, with all the respect to every person in the US. They support us very much but now the situation is very simple.

“I believe that this peace summit needs President Biden and other leaders need him as well, because they value the US reaction.

"[Biden's] absence would only be met by an applause by Putin, a personal, standing applause by Putin.”

Mr Zelensky made an earlier plea to Mr Biden and