Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a dramatic entrance at a Singapore security forum amidst Russia’s ongoing offensive, seeking support for Kyiv. Zelenskyy arrived at the Shangri-La Dialogue, where he was met with applause and quickly ushered to an elevator after shaking hands with event organizers. He is scheduled to speak at the forum on Sunday, joined by U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin, who plans to meet with Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss the situation in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy has been on a tour of European nations to garner military aid for Ukraine, which is facing relentless Russian attacks. Amidst the escalating conflict, the U.S. and Germany have granted permission for Ukraine to use weapons provided by them to strike inside Russia. As Russian President Vladimir Putin warns of “serious consequences”, Ukraine continues to struggle to fend off Russian advances, with allies hesitant to send troops.
Zelenskyy’s diplomatic efforts also aim to gather support for a peace summit in Switzerland, with Sweden recently pledging significant military aid to Ukraine. As Russia intensifies its attacks on energy sites in Ukraine, the country’s air defenses are strained to defend against the onslaught.
© 2024 AFP