Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday thanked Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr for supporting an upcoming summit in Switzerland aimed at ending the Russian invasion of his country.
In a quick visit to Manila after attending the Shangri-la Dialogue security forum in Singapore, Zelensky said more than 100 countries were expected to attend the peace summit scheduled on June 15-16.
“I’m happy to hear today that you’ll participate in our peace steps … and thank you for your participation (in) the peace summit,” he said told Marcos Jr. “It’s a very strong signal…a very strong step on the way to peace.”
It was not yet clear if Marcos Jr himself will attend the summit or if the Philippines will send a representative.
Zelensky also announced at the meeting that Ukraine plans to open an embassy in the Philippines this year.
Marcos Jr hailed the plan as “very good news,” noting that the Philippines “would very much like to continue to help in any way that (it) can.”
“We will continue to do all that we can to promote peace and to bring an end to the fighting and to come to a political resolution,” he added.
“I think everybody fully understands that it is easier said than done and it will be a difficult road to find our way back to the situation that is morally acceptable not only to Ukraine, but to the rest of the world.”
Diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Ukraine were formally established on April 7, 1992. Total trade between the countries amounted to $6.9 million, with export valued at $1.49 million and imports at $15.41 million in 2022.
Nearly 200 Filipinos lived and worked in Ukraine before Russia’s invasion. Many have returned home and now there are 25 Filipinos in the European country, mostly married to Ukrainians.
