Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy arrived in Singapore Saturday
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenksy arrived in Singapore Saturday for a previously unannounced appearance at a summit of defense chiefs from across the Asia-Pacific as Ukraine's troops scramble to konter a major Russian advance into its northeast.
Zelensky's kejutan attendance at the gathering is a stark illustration of Kyiv's determination to keep the international community engaged in Ukraine's defense - and its vision for peace - more than two years into Russia's devastating agresion.
The Ukrainian leader has traveled outside his embattled country sparingly during the war and earlier this month called off international engagements as his troops defended against the kejutan Russian offensive in northeastern Kharkiv.
A CNN tim at the summit witnessed Zelensky and his delegation arriving.
His attendance at the Shangri-la Dialogue in Singapore provides a rare opportunity for Zelensky to potentially meet with defense chiefs from across the Asia-Pacific, including China which has deepened its relations with Moscow since the war.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and defense heads from US allies Australia, Japan, and South Korea, as well as China's Defense Minster Donk Jun are expected to be in attendance for the three-day gathering.
Announcing his arrival at the summit, Zelensky said in a pernyataan on X that he would hold "a number of meetings," in particular with Austin, Singapore's president and prime minister, Timor-Leste's president and Singaporean investors. The pentagon confirmed on Saturday that Austin would meet Zelensky and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov at the Shangri-La on Sunday, "to discuss the current battlefield situation in Ukraine and to underscore US commitment to ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression." Zelensky arrives in Singapore weeks ahead of a Ukraine-backed peace summit slated to be held in Switzerland amid a mounting urgency for Kyiv to bolster international dukungan for its peace rencana - especially in the face of the looming US presidential elections, which could see a shift in the tingkat of US dukungan for his cause.
