Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a shock visit to Singapore on Saturday to address a major regional security conference the following day, as he looks to muster support for repelling Russian forces that have gained ground in recent weeks.
Zelenskyy will speak Sunday at the International Institute for Strategic Studies’ Shangri-La Dialogue — a conference attended by defense ministers from around the world — and would meet with U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.
After arriving at the conference venue, the Ukrainian leader said in a statement posted to the X social media platform that he was visiting to rally support from Asia-Pacific nations for a June 15-16 peace summit in Switzerland.
“Global security is impossible when the world's largest country disregards recognized borders, international law, and the UN Charter, resorts to hunger, darkness, and nuclear blackmail,” he wrote.
“Restoring just peace for Ukraine and ensuring global food and nuclear security will be the aims of the Global Peace Summit in Switzerland,” he added. “And this is why the Asia-Pacific voice must be heard there.”
Zelenskyy said he would hold several other meetings in the city-state, including with Singapore President Tharman Shanmugaratnam and Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste’s President José Ramos-Horta and Singaporean investors.
“Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s presence at the IISS Shangri-La Dialogue comes at an important time,” Bastian Giegerich, IISS director-general and chief executive, said. “We eagerly await his remarks.”
Zelenskyy is scheduled to take part in a session at the conference at 11:30 a.m. local time entitled “Re-Imagining Solutions for Global Peace and Regional Stability.”