The White House pushed back against criticisms from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky regarding President Joe Biden’s absence from what has been described as a peace summit in Switzerland. John Kirby, a senior adviser for strategic communications for the White House National Security Council, conveyed the administration’s stance during a recent online briefing. The briefing emphasized that no official from the White House has publicly disclosed details about which members will attend the event. Regardless of who is chosen to represent the United States, the administration asserts that Washington continues to back Kyiv in its efforts and will remain engaged in supporting Ukraine. [Source: White House briefing]
Kirby stressed that the leadership in Washington has not wavered in its support for Ukraine and that President Biden has taken steps to ensure Kyiv receives the assistance it needs. The official countered claims that the United States has diminished its commitment, noting that since the conflict began, no other leader has provided as much backing as Biden. [Source: White House briefing]
Meanwhile, Zelensky criticized Biden’s decision to skip the summit, describing it as not very strong. The Ukrainian president has previously urged both Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to participate in the Switzerland event, signaling a desire for higher-level attention to the peace process. [Source: White House briefing]
With the Swiss gathering framed as a potential turning point, the exchange underscores ongoing tensions between Kyiv and Washington over diplomatic approaches and timing. The administration maintains that the United States remains deeply committed to Ukraine’s security needs while navigating the complexities of multilateral diplomacy. [Source: White House briefing]