Leaders representing 100 nations assembled Saturday in Switzerland for a Ukraine-led summit on ways to bring the ongoing Russian invasion to a peaceful end.
The international gathering in Obbürgen, which was briefly attended by Vice President Kamala Harris, follows on the heels of Kyiv’s rejection Friday of a proposed “truce” offer from the Kremlin.
Harris met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky ahead of Saturday’s meeting, and announced the State Department and the US Agency for International Development had earmarked a combined $1.5 billion in assistance for his war-torn nation, mainly aimed at repairing the energy infrastructure Russia has relentlessly targeted.
US Vice President Kamala Harris meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky Saturday. POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Zelensky arrives at the summit with Swiss Federal President Viola Amherd. POOL/AFP via Getty Images“War is not our choice. It’s Putin’s choice,” Zelensky told reporters while standing alongside Harris. “And with this summit today, we will do everything we can to start moving toward real peace.”
Moscow proposed a suspension of hostilities, provided Ukraine was willing to surrender four eastern regions currently under Russian military control. Ukraine responded by calling it an “ultimatum.”
“Ukraine never wanted this war,” Zelensky told the press. “It’s a criminal and absolutely unprovoked aggression by Russia.”
Harris and Zelensky take part in talks with their respective delegations during a Summit on Peace in Ukraine. AFP via Getty Images
A view shows residential buildings heavily damaged during a Russian military attack, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine. via REUTERS
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz arrives at Zurich airport on Saturday. APGerman Chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s offer as another insincere ploy.
China opted not to attend the summit meeting, showing solidarity with the Russians.
In other developments:
- Freshman NATO member Sweden scrambled fighter jets Friday to intercept a Russian aircraft that briefly violated Sweden’s airspace. Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billstrom said the airspace incursion was “unacceptable” and said officials from the Russian Embassy in Stockholm would be summoned to his ministry to discuss the incident.
- Five were reported killed in Ukrainian shelling on the Russian border town of Shebekino. Several others were wounded, explained Belgorod region Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov on Saturday.
- Ukraine also flew 87 drones about 150 miles into Russia overnight Thursday, bound for the Morosovsk Airfield, where dozens of Russian bomber jets have been parked. Russia claims it downed most of the drones before they reached their intended target.
With Post wires.
