Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy is welcomed by a Ukrainian military official at Zurich Airport, Switzerland, June 14, 2024 (Michael Buholzer/Reuters)

Friday’s Coverage: G7 Agrees $50 Billion Support for Kyiv

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 1627 GMT:

In an appearance with Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, US Vice President Kamala Harris has said, “This war remains an utter failure for Putin. It is in our interest to uphold international norms.”

Earlier in the day, Harris announced more than $1.5 billion in aid for Ukraine, with a focus on the energy sector (see 1058 GMT).

UPDATE 1316 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has posted:

UPDATE 1106 GMT:

Three civilians have been killed and five injured by Russian shelling of the Donetsk region in eastern Ukrainie.

The village of Ulakly was hit by cluster munitions, with damage to administrative buildings, a private house, a shop, and eight cars.

UPDATE 1058 GMT:

At the Global Peace Summit, US Vice President Kamala Harris, has announced more than $1.5 billion in aid for Ukraine.

The package includes $500 million for energy assistance; more than $379 million for food assistance, health services, shelter, water, sanitation, and hygiene services; and redirection of $324 million in funds towards emergency energy infrastructure repair and other needs.

Harris’ office said in a statement:

These efforts will help Ukraine respond to Russia’s latest attacks on Ukraine energy infrastructure by supporting repair and recovery, improving Ukraine’s resilience to energy supply disruptions, and laying the groundwork to repair and expand Ukraine’s energy system.

UPDATE 0633 GMT:

One civilian was killed and seven wounded by Russian attacks on the Sumy region in northern Ukraine on Friday.

The Russians attacked eight communities during the day. In Shostka, a missile attack killed one person and injured four, and a drone attack in Esman struck a bus and wounded three of 20 passengers.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: The Global Peace Summit, seeking a resolution of Russia’s 27 1/2-month invasion of Ukraine and a restoration of global security, opens on Saturday in Switzerland.

More than 100 countries and organizations will discuss issues based on the Ukraine Peace Formula, first presented by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy at a G7 summit in November 2022. They include Ukraine’s sovereignty with withdrawal of Russian troops from occupied territory; return of prisoners of war and Ukrainians, including children, abducted and deported by Russia; and nuclear, food, and energy security.

Arriving in Switzerland on Friday from the latest G7 summit in Italy, Zelenskiy posted:

Together, as responsible global majority, we must make every effort to ensure that wars, aggressions, and colonial occupation can be ended and that they will never repeat. I am certain that everyone in the world is interested in just peace and respect for every nation.

As the aggressor, Russia has not been invited; however, Switzerland has emphasized that the meeting will seek a “roadmap” for discussions with Moscow to end its invasion.

China is also staying away. Zelenskiy noted at the G7 summit that Beijing is helping Moscow’s attempts to undermine the meeting, bringing a denial from the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

Organizers played down China’s decision and hope that Saudi Arabia, where Zelenskiy met Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman this week, will be present.

Ukraine Bolstered By G7 Commitments

Trying to steal the news cycle — and facing increased support for Ukraine at the G7 summit — and stricter sanctions on Russia’s economy, Vladimir Putin issued an ultimatum on Thursday. He said Kyiv must Ukraine recognize his illegal annexation of four Ukrainian regions — Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south and Donetsk and Luhansk in the east — and abandon any intention to join NATO.

Zelenskiy knocked back Putin’s posturing:

These messages are ultimatums, and they are no different from any other ultimatums he made in the past.

What he’s doing is a revival of Nazism. He wants us to renounce our occupied territories but he also wants our unoccupied territories. He… doesn’t intend to stop, and there will be no frozen conflict.

Ukraine was bolstered by the G7 at the two-day summit by confirmation of a $50 billion fund for Kyiv’s resistance and reconstruction.

Germany and the US announced extensive packages of military aid, including air defense systems needed for protection against Russia’s missile and drone strikes. Zelenskiy signed 10-year security agreements with the US and Japan, bringing the total of bilateral pacts to 16.