Zelensky regrets that Biden unlikely to attend Ukraine conference in Switzerland

MOSCOW. May 28 (Interfax) - Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky has described United States President Joe Biden's possible absence at an upcoming conference on Ukraine in Switzerland as "not a very strong decision."

"I would very much like U.S. President Joseph Biden to be present in person. And I know that America supports [the conference in Switzerland]. But we don't know at what level. I believe this is not a very strong decision," Ukrainian media quoted Zelensky as saying at a joint press conference with the Belgian prime minister in Brussels on Wednesday.

Western media reported earlier that Biden was unlikely to travel to Switzerland to take part in the conference scheduled for June 15-16 in Lucerne, as he was planning to attend a presidential campaign fundraising event California at the time.

"I believe [the conference] needs President Biden, and other leaders monitoring the U.S. reaction need him, too," Zelensky said.

He said he was still expecting a reply from China, Brazil, and some African countries regarding their participation in the conference.

China has said it favors a peace conference recognized by both Moscow and Kiev.

Moscow has not been invited to the conference in Switzerland. Russian presidential press secretary Dmitry Peskov has said repeatedly that holding a conference on settling the Ukraine crisis without Russia is senseless and has no prospects.