[Tee tiong huat]

Zelenskiy arrives in Singapore for Shangri-La Dialogue.  SINGAPORE, June 1(Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelenskiy arrived in Singapore for Shangri-La Dialogue conference on Saturday, where he planned to meet U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin & discuss support for his country in an address to delegates.

After arriving at conference venue in a motorcade amid heavy security, Zelenskiy said in a statement on social media platform X that he had come to gather support from Asia-Pacific region for peace summit planned for June 15-16 in Switzerland.

"Global security is impossible when world's largest country disregards recognised borders, international law, & U.N. Charter, resorts to hunger, darkness, nuclear blackmail," the statement said, referring to Russia, which invaded Ukraine in 2022.

Statement said Zelenskiy planned to hold several meetings, including with Singapore’s President Tharman Shanmugaratnam & PM Lawrence Wong, Timor-Leste President José Ramos-Horta, Austin, and Singaporean investors.

A U.S. official said Zelenskiy and Ukrainian Defence Minster Rustem Umerov would meet Austin "to discuss the current battlefield situation in Ukraine & to underscore U.S. commitment to ensuring Ukraine has what it needs to defend itself against ongoing Russian aggression".

The International Institute of Strategic Studies (IISS), which organises security conference, said Zelenskiy would participate in a discussion session on Sunday entitled "Re-Imagining Solutions for Global Peace and Regional Stability".

Zelenskiy said on Wednesday that Russia is trying to disrupt the Switzerland peace summit, which he hopes will generate support for the withdrawal of Russian troops and the restoration of Ukraine's 1991 borders.

Reuters first reported his planned trip to Singapore on Friday. Its Zelenskiy's 2nd trip to Asia, In May 2023, he attended G7 meetings in Japan. As Ruzz
begun assaults against Ukrainian lines & stepped up missile attacks in recent weeks as troops have made gains in Ukraine's east & south, as Kyiv's allies accelerate shipments of munition & other arms. The Russia has not attended the Shangri-La Dialogue since the invasion.

US approved $61 billion aid to Ukraine, such as Patriot missiles & ATACMS precision ballistic missiles - already arrived. On U.S. President Joe Biden informed Ukraine it can use U.S. weapons to strike targets across the border into Russia that were being used to attack areas around Kharkiv, a city in Ukraine's northeast. Russian Putin has warned NATO members allowing Ukraine to fire their weapons into Russia & once again raised the risk of nuclear war.

Austin, spoke earlier on Saturday @Shangri-La Dialogue, his remarks support for Ukrainian forces pushing back against Russia's invasion for more than two years showed that countries around the world could rally in the face of aggression.

Shangri-La conference, held annually in Singapore by International Institute of Strategic Studies for last 21 years,. Coming soon: Latest news & expert analysis state of the global news with Reuters. Thomson Reuters

https://www.reuters.com/world/zelenskiy-...024-06-01/

Zelenskiy dominates Asia security conference as China, Taiwan trade barbs. SINGAPORE, June 2 (Reuters) - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's unscheduled appearance at Asia's biggest security conference dominated proceedings on Sunday after China's defence chief slammed "separatists" in Taiwan, drawing a sharp response from the govt in Taipei.


Dressed in his trademark olive green T-shirt, Zelenskiy addressed the last day of the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore, asking for support and participation at a summit in Switzerland later this month aimed at bringing peace to his war-ravaged nation.

"We are convinced that our world wants to be united and be capable of acting in complete harmony," he said to a ballroom packed full of delegates in formal business wear and military uniforms.

Reuters was first to report that Zelenskiy would make an unscripted appearance at the conference, his second visit to Asia since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Zelenskiy told a news conference that he was not able to meet the Chinese delegation at the conference and was disappointed that Beijing would not attend the summit.

"China, unfortunately... is working for countries not to come to the peace summit," he said.

Earlier, China's defence chief, Dong Jun, warned that prospects of a peaceful "reunification" of Taiwan were being eroded, and promised to ensure the island would never gain independence.
China views democratically governed Taiwan as its own territory, over the strong objections of the govt in Taipei, and last month staged war games around the island in anger at the inauguration of President Lai Ching-te, who Beijing calls a "separatist".

"Those separatists recently made fanatical statements that show their betrayal of the Chinese nation and their ancestors. They will be nailed to the pillar of shame in history," Dong said.

Singapore, June 2, 2024. Ukrainian Presidential 
He added that although China was committed to peaceful reunification with Taiwan, the People's Liberation Army "will remain a strong force for upholding national reunification".

Taiwan's China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council said in response that it deeply regretted the "provocative and irrational" comments, and reiterated that the People's Republic of China has never ruled the island.

China has repeatedly threatened force against Taiwan at international venues, and its threats violate the United Nations charter, the council said in a statement.

A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter, said Dong's speech covered little new ground.

“Every year for three years, a new Chinese defence minister has come to Shangri-La," the official said. "And every year, they’ve given a speech at complete odds with the reality of the PLA’s coercive activity across the region. This year was no different.”

Dong's speech came a day after U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin told delegates the Indo-Pacific region remained a key focus for the United States, even as it grappled with security assistance for Ukraine and the war in Gaza.

"Let me be clear: The US can be secure only if Asia is secure," Austin said. "That's why the United States has long maintained our presence in this region."

Dong and Austin met for more than an hour on Friday on the sidelines of the conference, their first face-to-face meet.