Russia takes control of Kharkiv village, Ukrainian President urges US, Chinese leaders to attend peace conference

On May 26, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky urged US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend a peace conference in Switzerland next June.

Emergency services remove the body of a victim from a hardware store in Kharkiv. (Source: Getty Images)

In a video message, Mr Zelensky said: "I call on world leaders... US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping... to support the peace summit with your personal leadership and participation."

Meanwhile, Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said Russian glide bombs hit a supermarket being renovated in Kharkiv on May 25, killing at least 12 people and injuring 43. He added that 16 more people were missing. The bombs caused a fire that destroyed more than 10,000 square meters of store space during a busy shopping day.

Russia's Defense Ministry says its forces have captured a village in the northeastern Kharkiv region.

The ministry said Russian troops “liberated the settlement of Berestove in the Kharkiv region.” Berestove is on the eastern frontline, near the Lugansk region, which is almost entirely under Russian control. This month, Russia made its biggest territorial advance in 18 months, according to The Telegraph (UK).

It is reported that the leaders of China, Brazil, South Africa, Mexico and most likely of the countries in the Southern Hemisphere will not attend the peace conference in Switzerland. Even US President Joe Biden will not attend the event due to his busy election campaign. The conference is scheduled to take place on June 15-16 in the Swiss city of Bürgenstock.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier this month that "they didn't invite us" and added that Russia would not press ahead with attending an event where it was not welcome.

China reiterated its position this week, in a joint statement with Brazil that it supports “an international peace conference held at an appropriate time recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties and fair discussion of all peace issues and plans.”

Mr Zelensky said more than 80 countries had confirmed their attendance at the peace conference and Ukraine was continuing efforts to invite leaders.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/nga-kiem-soat-ngoi-lang-o-kharkiv-tong-thong-ukraine-hoi-thuc-lang-dao-my-trung-du-hoi-nghiep-hoa-binh-272725.html