Instead, Biden appears set to attend a Hollywood fundraising event planned for the summit weekend.
“The Vice President will underscore the Biden-Harris Administration’s commitment to supporting Ukraine’s effort to secure a just and lasting peace, based on Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and the principles of the U.N. Charter,” the White House said.
Ukraine has already secured promises from more than 100 countries to attend, according to Zelenskyy’s office, although some key states, including China, refused to come, citing the absence of a representative from Russia during the summit.
Zelenskyy criticized Beijing for skipping the event, saying it was helping Russia derail peace efforts.
“I believe that the peace summit needs President Biden, and other leaders need President Biden because they will look at the U.S.’s reaction,” Zelenskyy said at a press conference in Brussels last week.
The U.S. president’s absence “would only be met by an applause by Putin — a personal, standing applause,” he added.
