Zelensky called for increased aid to Ukraine at the Singapore Security Forum

Calls for increased military aid to Ukraine were at the heart of Volodymyr Zelensky's participation in the Singapore Security Forum. The Ukrainian president discussed strengthening Ukraine's air defenses with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin. Zelensky criticized China for sabotaging the peace meeting in Switzerland by suspending the participation of a number of countries. Lloyd Austin briefed the Ukrainian president on US military aid to Ukraine, which had been blocked in the US Congress for months due to vetoes by Republican congressmen. The defense minister reaffirmed Washington's commitment to maintaining strong support for Kiev. Zelensky wrote on the X social network that he and the US defense minister discussed the strengthening of Ukraine's air defense, the delivery of F-16 fighter jets and the drafting of a bilateral security agreement between Washington and Kyiv. The Ukrainian leader did not fail to thank the US for its continued support for Ukraine, which has to deal with the recently launched Russian offensive in the Kharkiv region. "We appreciate the vital defense and political support for Ukraine from the United States," Zelensky wrote. He also thanked for Washington's permission to use American weapons for military purposes on the territory of Russia. The peace meeting to be held this month in Switzerland was the other key topic of Zelensky's visit to Singapore. The Ukrainian head of state criticized China for trying to sabotage the meeting. "China, unfortunately, today is working hard to prevent countries from coming to the peace summit," Zelensky said. Beijing's criticism of the peace meeting is related to the fact that Russia was not invited to participate in it. According to the Chinese Foreign Ministry, without Moscow's participation, the conference "will not play a significant role in restoring peace." Zelensky also expressed his disappointment that "some world leaders" did not attend the conference, as China has signaled that Xi Jinping will not attend and US President Joe Biden has yet to commit. Through the peace summit, Kiev hopes to gain broad international support for its vision of the conditions necessary to end the war with Russia. On June 1, the Ukrainian leader said more than 100 countries and organizations had joined the conference and called on countries in the Asia-Pacific region to join. Zelensky added that China was a "tool in Putin's hands" and accused Russia of using Chinese influence and Chinese diplomats to do "everything to derail the peace summit." | BGNES