Brussels: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that U.S. President Joe Biden's absence from the upcoming Ukraine peace summit in Switzerland would be akin to giving Russian President Vladimir Putin a standing ovation. Zelensky stressed the importance of Biden's participation in the mid-June conference during his visit to Brussels on Tuesday.

Zelensky emphasized that the presence of Biden and other world leaders is crucial for the success of the summit. "If he is not present, it will be just like applauding Putin: personally applauding and doing so standing," Zelensky stated. He urged Biden to attend, noting that the global community is closely watching the U.S. response.

The Ukrainian president highlighted the summit as a critical juncture for choosing peace or war in Ukraine. "If you want peace, you will be there and you will speak, even if you don't agree with something," Zelensky said. Conversely, he criticized those who might skip the summit, suggesting they are "satisfied with war."

Zelensky also addressed Russia's exclusion from the summit and accused Putin of attempting to sabotage the event. "Putin is very scared of the peace summit," he remarked, adding that the Kremlin is "doing everything" to continue and expand the conflict.

The peace summit is set to take place nearly 28 months into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, amid recent Russian advances in the eastern regions. Zelensky's call for maximum participation underscores the summit's significance in addressing the ongoing war and seeking a resolution.