Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed a group of top defense officials at Asia's premier security conference, urging them to attend an upcoming conference focused on ending the Russian war on Ukraine. Zelenskyy expressed his disappointment that some world leaders had not yet confirmed their attendance at the conference scheduled to take place in Switzerland in about two weeks. While he did not mention any country by name, the potential participation of China, a key ally of Russia, was highlighted as a significant concern.
Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun had spoken earlier at the Shangri-La conference but was not present in the room when Zelenskyy made his appeal. In his own address, Dong did not specifically reference the upcoming Switzerland meetings but emphasized China's commitment to promoting peace talks with a responsible approach. He clarified that China had refrained from providing weapons to either side of the conflict, asserting that China stood firmly in support of peace and dialogue.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was also in attendance at the conference and was seated in the front row during Zelenskyy's address. The discussions at the conference underscored the complex dynamics surrounding the Ukraine crisis and the efforts being made by various nations to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the conflict.
