SINGAPORE: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will address the Shangri-La Dialogue security conference in Singapore on Sunday (Jun 2).
The organisers of Asia’s top defence summit, the International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS), confirmed on Saturday that Mr Zelenskyy will participate in the seventh plenary session of the Shangri-La Dialogue, titled “Re-Imagining Solutions for Global Peace and Regional Stability”.
IISS also told CNA on Saturday that Mr Zelenskyy will attend in person as he seeks to rally support for Kyiv while a Russian offensive gains ground. Reuters earlier reported he would be in Singapore, citing several unidentified sources.
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presence at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue comes at an important time. We eagerly await his remarks,” said IISS Director-General and Chief Executive Bastian Giegerich.
The session will start at 11.30am, Singapore time and will be streamed on IISS’ website and YouTube channel.
Mr Zelenskyy arrived in Singapore on Saturday evening for the Shangri-La Dialogue, where he will likely discuss support for his embattled country in an address to delegates.
US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will also meet Mr Zelenskyy and Ukrainian Defence Minister Rustem Umerov on Sunday on the sidelines of the conference, according to a US official.
They will meet to “discuss the current battlefield situation in Ukraine and to underscore US commitment to ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression”, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity and is travelling with Mr Austin.
Mr Austin, who spoke on Saturday at the Shangri-La Dialogue, noted in his remarks that the support for Ukrainian forces pushing back against Russia’s invasion for more than two years showed that countries around the world could rally in the face of aggression.
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