Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told the participants in Shangri-La dialogue today that diplomacy — in the form of a peace conference later this month — is the best way to end “the brutal war” that has killed thousands in his country since 2022.

Speaking on a panel at this annual defense forum held in SingaporeZelensky said that 106 countries and organizations have registered for the peace conference, which Switzerland will host in mid-June.

However, the Ukrainian president pointed out that it is disappointing that some world leaders have not yet expressed their support for the conference, believing that Russia is seeking to disrupt peace efforts.

“We are convinced that our world wants to be united and able to act in full harmony,” Zelensky stressed.

At the same time, he thanked countries – including USA, Germany, and the Netherlands—for their military assistance to Ukraine, notably the provision of air defense systems. Zelensky referred to an attack launched by Russia against Ukraine today with almost 100 missiles – something he explained has happened hundreds of times – and noted that “no country could cope with this alone”.

Continued American aid

On the sidelines of the forum and before the speech of Zelensky and the Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov they spoke for more than an hour with the American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Austin briefed Zelensky on US military aid to Ukraine and “reaffirmed the strong American commitment to maintain strong support” of Kiev, said a US official who spoke on condition of anonymity.

“The two leaders pledged to further strengthen the strategic defense cooperation between the US and Ukraine,” the Pentagon official added.

Asked by reporters as he left the meeting room, the Ukrainian president said he had a “very good” conversation with Austin.

On the Telegram platform, Zelensky commented that with the American minister “we discussed the basics: the defense needs of our country, the strengthening of the Ukrainian air defense system, the F-16 coalition and the preparation of a bilateral security agreement.”

The meeting came after Zelensky on Friday hailed “the step forward” taken by the US after giving the green light to Kiev’s conditional use of US weapons to attack targets on Russian soil.

Moreover, earlier Zelensky had mentioned to X that he met with the elected president of Indonesia Prabovo Subiantoa delegation of the US Congress and the president of East Timor Jose Ramos-Horta.

Zelensky noted that Ramos-Horta has agreed to participate in the Ukraine peace conference, which Switzerland is hosting in mid-June. Last year at the Shangri-La Dialogue, Prabowo had proposed an Indonesian plan to end the war in Ukraine.

Addressing the participants of the forum, the Chinese Minister of Defense Dong Joon stated that his country is careful not to support either Ukraine or Russia.

“On the issue of the Ukrainian crisis, China promotes the holding of peace talks with a responsible attitude,” he explained. “We have never offered weapons to any of the sides involved in the conflict. We have established strict controls on the export of dual-use items and have never done anything to fuel the conflict. We firmly stand on the side of peace and dialogue,” Dong emphasized.