USA's Vice President Kamala Harris is set to participate in the peace conference on the Ukraine war hosted by Switzerland later in June, according to the White House.
President Joe Biden is reportedly instead scheduled to attend a campaign rally in California hosted by Julia Roberts and George Clooney.
Harris will participate in the conference with White House national security advisor Jake Sullivan. They will emphasize the Biden administration's "engagement to support Ukraine's efforts to ensure a just and lasting peace".
"The Vice President will attest to the support for the Ukrainian people in their defense against the ongoing Russian aggression," says Kirsten Allen, spokesperson for the Vice President, in a statement.
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyj has pushed for Biden to attend the conference – and has drawn a parallel between the President's absence and "personally applauding" Russian President Vladimir Putin.
