Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an emotional plea Sunday for both US President Joe Biden and China's Xi Jinping to join an upcoming peace summit slated to take place in Switzerland in June.\nWith the background of a printing plant razed by a Russian missile strike in the northeastern city of Kharkiv, Zelensky said, "We do not want the UN Charter to be burnt down just like these books, and I hope you don't want to either."
Zelensky appealed in English to Biden and Xi in a video posted on the social media platform Telegram, saying that global unity was needed to ensure commitments were honored. "The efforts of the global majority are the best guarantee that all commitments will be fulfilled. Please, support the peace summit with your personal leadership and participation," he added.
Switzerland has invited some 160 nations to the June 15-16 peace summit to find ways to seek lasting peace in Ukraine. Significantly, Russia, the aggressor in Ukraine's more than two-year conflict, did not receive an invitation.
According to Zelensky, the attack follows another planned attack by Moscow on northern Ukraine, which occurred near the northeastern city of Kharkiv.
Military experts believe the Russian assault will resume in the northern Sumy region. Russia would strive to exploit its superior personnel and material resources to extend Ukraine's defences, eventually smashing the frontier.
Kharkov is only 30 kilometres from the Russian border and is one of the most devastated towns as a result of Moscow's bombing campaign since its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
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