In a desperate plea for international support, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on President Joe Biden of the United States and Chinese leader Xi Jinping to participate in an upcoming peace summit. The summit, scheduled for June in Switzerland, aims to address the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine, which has intensified in recent weeks.

The conflict has seen Moscow's forces advancing on the battlefield and increasing air strikes on Ukrainian cities. Zelenskyy hopes that by involving global leaders such as Biden and Xi, there will be greater international pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the aggression.

Speaking in a video recorded inside the remains of a printing press destroyed by a Russian air strike, Zelenskyy emphasized that the summit will demonstrate "who in the world really wants to end the war." He implored Biden and Xi to exhibit their leadership by actively working towards a genuine peace, rather than a temporary ceasefire.

Zelenskyy's plea comes shortly after Russian sources informed Reuters that Putin was willing to cease the war in Ukraine through a negotiated ceasefire that acknowledges the current battlefield lines. However, Zelenskyy and his supporters argue that such a ceasefire would only provide an opportunity for Russia to rearm and regroup.

Russia has incrementally gained ground along various parts of the eastern front in recent months and is currently attempting to penetrate deeper into the northeastern Kharkiv region following a ground incursion earlier this month. Zelenskyy, in an interview with Reuters, stressed the importance of involving as many countries as possible in the peace talks.

It remains to be seen if Biden and Xi will accede to Zelenskyy's request and take part in the peace summit. Putin believes that the negotiations could transform Ukrainian demands for a Russian withdrawal into an ultimatum against Russia.

As Ukraine faces relentless attacks from Russia, Zelenskyy's appeal to global leaders highlights the urgent need for a united front to bring an end to the conflict and restore peace to the region. The international community anxiously awaits the response from Biden and Xi as the June peace summit draws near.