The United States has reiterated its backing for Ukraine as President Volodymyr Zelensky seeks global assistance in countering Russia's aggression. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin held discussions with Zelensky during a significant security summit in Singapore. Recently, the U.S. authorized Ukraine to utilize American-made weaponry within Russian territory, marking a notable policy shift.
The meeting between Austin and Zelensky focused on Ukraine's critical battlefield requirements, particularly the urgent need for enhanced air defense systems to counter Russia's relentless missile attacks near the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv. Zelensky expressed gratitude towards the U.S., President Biden, and Austin for enabling Ukraine to deploy American weapons against Russian assaults.
Zelensky's presence at the Singapore summit aimed to garner support from Asian nations in Ukraine's struggle against Russia, urging them not to align with the aggressor. Additionally, he sought participation in an upcoming peace summit organized by Ukraine to facilitate a resolution to the conflict with Russia.
Despite efforts to engage China in the peace summit, the Chinese leadership declined to meet with Zelensky in Singapore and is unlikely to attend the peace talks. Reports suggest that China is backing Russia's military actions in Ukraine by supporting its defense sector.
While Zelensky did not achieve all his objectives at the summit, he viewed the face-to-face interactions with key leaders as a step towards building a broader coalition of international allies to bolster Ukraine's defense against Russian aggression.
