Volodymyr Zelenskyy has hit out at China for being ‘in the hands’ of Vladimir Putin.
The Ukrainian President accused the country – which is Russia’s top trade partner – of helping its invaders prolong the bloodshed after refusing to attend an upcoming peace summit in Switzerland. Speaking at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Zelenskyy said: With Chinese support to Russia, the war will last longer.
The leader also slammed China for supplying Russia with dual-use items that the ‘US says are being used to rebuild Moscow’s defence industry’, reports the Financial Times. However, Zelenskyy says he did not meet any Chinese officials in Singapore, despite their attendance.
Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit, Zelenskyy said. Regrettably this is unfortunate that such a big independent powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of Putin.
China had been calling for a peace conference that included Russia, which has not been invited to talks in Switzerland, slated to take place On June 15 – 16. Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said: There is still a clear gap between the arrangements for the meeting and the demands of the Chinese side, as well as the general expectations of the international community. This makes it difficult for China to participate in the meeting.
Zelenskyy revealed he plans to use the summit to discuss nuclear security, the release of prisoners of war, and to call for Ukrainian children abducted by Russia to be returned safely. Time is running out, and the children are growing up in the Putin-land where they are taught to hate their homeland, he added.
The President has also urged POTUS Biden to attend the talks, arguing his absence would ‘only be met by an applause by Putin’. However, reports say the Democrat will miss the summit to attend a fundraiser in California.
