Zelensky in Singapore; Efforts to Garner Support for 'Ukraine Peace Summit' in Switzerland

Volodymyr Zelensky, the President of Ukraine, attended the Shangri-La Security Conference in Singapore on Saturday, seeking to garner support from Asia-Pacific countries for the Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland later this month. This summit will focus on the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine and the restoration of the country's borders as they were in 1991. In a post on the social media platform X, Zelensky referred to Russia's attack on Ukraine in 2022, stating, 'Global security is impossible when the largest country in the world disregards recognized borders, international laws, and the UN Charter.' According to a U.S. official, Zelensky and Rustem Umerov, Ukraine's Minister of Defense, are set to meet with Lloyd Austin, the U.S. Secretary of Defense, to discuss the current battlefield situation in Ukraine and the U.S. commitment to ensure that Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against Russia's ongoing aggression. Additionally, according to the International Institute for Strategic Studies, the event's organizer, Zelensky is scheduled to participate in a dialogue session on global peace and regional stability on Sunday. This is Zelensky's second trip to Asia since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. Russia has not participated in the Shangri-La dialogue since its invasion of Ukraine. The trip to Singapore comes shortly after the U.S. decision to lift some restrictions on Ukraine's use of U.S.-supplied weapons to strike inside Russia, which Zelensky welcomed as a 'step forward.' Recently, with the approval of U.S. President Joe Biden, Ukraine was allowed to use American weapons to target Russian territory. The U.S. authorization is limited to bases in Russia that have targeted the city of Kharkiv in Ukraine in their recent attacks. Antony Blinken, the U.S. Secretary of State, confirmed this news on Friday, June 2, during a press conference following a meeting with NATO foreign ministers. The U.S. Secretary of State did not provide details on the possibility of other targets being included deep within Russian territory. Russia currently occupies 18% of Ukrainian territory and is advancing in some areas, opening a new front in the Kharkiv region. Ukraine can use imported weapons against targets in Russia; the new U.S. authorization continues Russia's attacks on Ukraine's energy sector; Zelensky has called for air defense systems from the West. Russian airstrikes have damaged energy facilities across Ukraine. The U.S. has allowed Ukraine to use its weapons to attack targets in Russian territory. Ukraine has signed long-term security agreements with Sweden and Norway. The U.S. has sanctioned four entities and one individual involved in the drone program of the Islamic Republic. Russia has extended the detention of a dual U.S.-Russian journalist. The G7 expressed 'serious concern' over the deepening ties between Russia and North Korea.