Vice President Kamala Harris has been chosen to represent the US at the peace conference on Ukraine in Switzerland, despite prior statements from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insisting that President Joe Biden must not be absent. The White House announced on June 3 that National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and Vice President Kamala Harris would attend the peace summit in Lucerne, Switzerland on June 15-16.
President Biden will not attend the conference due to prior commitments, including a campaign fundraising event organized by Hollywood stars George Clooney and Julia Roberts in California. Former President Barack Obama is also expected to attend the fundraiser in support of Biden’s reelection campaign. President Zelensky expressed disappointment at the absence of President Biden, stating that it is crucial for world leaders to show their commitment to peace in Ukraine by attending the conference.
Despite over 100 countries and organizations registering to attend the peace conference, China and Russia have declined their invitations. China cited that the event did not meet their requirements for attendance, while Russia was not invited at all. Moscow dismissed the peace summit as meaningless without Russian representation, further complicating efforts to resolve the conflict in Ukraine.
President Zelensky’s administration remains hopeful that the international community will show strong support for Ukraine’s peace plan, despite the absence of key leaders at the conference. Vice President Harris will emphasize the Biden-Harris administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine in achieving lasting and just peace and reaffirm support for the Ukrainian people as they defend themselves against Russian aggression during her visit to Lucerne.
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