Shropshire Star

Zelensky accuses China of pressuring countries not to attend Ukraine peace talks

The Ukrainian president said he is disappointed at the failure of some countries’ defence officials to commit to joining the forthcoming conference.

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addresses the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused China of helping Russia to disrupt a Swiss-organised peace conference on the war in Ukraine.

Speaking at the Shangri-La defence forum in Singapore, Asia’s premier security conference, on Sunday, Mr Zelenskyy said China is pressuring other countries and their leaders not to attend the forthcoming talks.

“Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” he said, according to a simultaneous translation of his remarks.

“Regrettably this is unfortunate that such a big independent powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of (Russian President Vladimir) Putin.”

In a speech earlier in the day, Mr Zelensky urged top defence officials to attend the forthcoming summit, saying he is disappointed at the failure of some countries to commit to joining.

Chinese Defence Minister Dong Jun spoke at the Shangri-La conference earlier in the day but did not appear to be in the room when the Ukrainian president made his appeal.