Duterte: Philippines must stay neutral in Ukraine conflict

MANILA, Philippines — President Duterte will not send Filipino soldiers to fight alongside American forces should the US be drawn further into the raging Russia-Ukraine conflict, insisting the Philippines should maintain its neutrality.

“Other countries – there’s violence in Europe, and Russia has wreaked havoc there. So, we better maintain our neutrality. Let’s avoid meddling in it so that we won’t get involved,” Duterte said during the inauguration of the New Leyte Provincial Government Complex on Thursday.

The Philippines maintains a defense pact with the United States.

“I won’t commit. If the Americans engage in a war and they’re here, why will I send my soldiers? It’s not our battle to fight. If the violence spills over and the war somehow gets here, that will be very difficult. I won’t, I really won’t. For as long as I’m President, I won’t send a single soldier of mine to go to war,” Duterte said.

The President had said the country should refrain from taking sides in the Russia-Ukraine war, voicing fears a further escalation could result in a nuclear war.

The West has imposed crippling sanctions against Moscow following its Feb. 24 invasion of Ukraine that has already killed hundreds of soldiers and civilians, destroyed the country’s infrastructure and triggered an exodus of millions of Ukrainians to neighboring countries.

The world’s major companies have also halted or scaled down their business operations in Russia.

Duterte said he is “pained” by what his “personal friend” Russian President Vladimir Putin is going through.

“With regard to Russia, I’m hurting, Putin is my friend. He’s a personal friend,” the President said, noting he visited the country twice.

Duterte’s call for neutrality, however, appears to run counter to the Philippines’ official position on the conflict.

On Feb. 28, the Philippines backed a UN resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

Philippine Ambassador to the US Jose Manuel Romuaaldez had said Duterte was ready to open the country’s “facilities” to American forces if Russia’s war with Ukraine takes a turn for the worse and gets the US embroiled in the fighting.

The 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty commits the US and the Philippines to come to the aid of the other in case of an attack.

Malacañang earlier said the Philippines is “more than prepared” to accept refugees from Ukraine as armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues.