RIVNE (Ukraine): The entire world, including Ukraine, wants Russia to join global leaders at a planned second peace summit to end the war in Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has told French media including AFP.

With Russian forces gaining momentum on the front and aid from allies ebbing or in doubt, Zelensky has launched an ambitious diplomatic offensive to end the war grinding through its third year.

He gathered leaders and top officials from dozens of countries at the Swiss mountainside resort of Burgenstock in June for a first summit, which Russia derided as a waste of time and China shunned.

While the Kremlin was not invited to the first gathering, now is the time for Moscow to take a seat at the table, Zelensky said.

“The majority of the world today says that Russia must be represented at the second summit, otherwise we will not achieve meaningful results,” he said in western Ukraine on Tuesday.

“Since the whole world wants them to be at the table, we cannot be against it.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he is open to negotiations, but would only order a ceasefire if Kyiv effectively surrendered territory that Moscow claims as its own.

Zelensky’s push focuses on a sweeping 10-point plan that would restore Ukrainian territorial integrity, return prisoners of war and give Ukraine energy and economic guarantees.

He acknowledged that China was a key player but said he did not want mediation from Beijing and instead urged it to pressure the Kremlin to end its invasion.

“If China wants, it can force Russia to stop this war,” Zelensky said.

While the Ukrainian leader has won broad international backing for his peace efforts, Zelensky hit out at some of those same allies for barring his army from using their weapons to hit deep inside Russian territory.

“It’s a serious challenge that we can’t use all the weapons we need to stop this enemy. What would you do if you were us?” he said.

He also criticised stilted arms deliveries, saying Ukraine was still waiting for weapons from allies to equip recently mobilised troops.

And if Ukraine breaks the terms of use for Western-donated weapons “then they can say that we won’t give you any more help — that’s the risk”, he said.