MANILA, Philippines — As his nation continues its campaign to push back invading Russians, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky made a surprise visit in Manila as part of his efforts to drum up support for an upcoming peace summit to be held in Switzerland, which aims to muster broad global support for his country.
Ukraine has complained that China is blocking global participation in the summit.
Meeting with President Marcos at Malacañang yesterday, Zelensky also relayed his country’s need for Filipino mental health workers especially for battle-weary soldiers.
Fighters returning to their families, especially those from the battlefront, need help with mental health issues in restoring normalcy in their lives, Zelensky told Marcos.
“It’s difficult for them… to study again,” Zelensky noted.
Marcos committed to send mental health workers to Ukraine, through the United Nations peacekeeping process.
“That is something that I think we are able to offer,” he told Zelensky.
Marcos stressed that the Philippines is well-known for its contributions to health care assistance even in crisis-areas, which is part of the country’s commitment to the UN peacekeeping process.
“I am happy to do all that we can to make sure that we can help especially the civilians and the innocents that are involved in the war. This is something that comes naturally to the Philippines so this will be something that we could pursue,” Marcos said.
He also committed to help Ukraine “in any way possible,” especially the civilians affected by constant attacks on villages by Russian forces.
The two leaders met yesterday at Malacañang after failing to meet at the recent Shangri-La Dialogue – Asia’s largest defense summit – in Singapore.
Zelensky reportedly arrived in Manila late Sunday after delivering a speech at the annual security summit in Singapore. Marcos delivered the keynote address at the event Friday night and returned to Manila early Saturday.
The Ukraine leader made an unexpected side trip to Manila to personally invite Marcos to the upcoming global peace summit in Switzerland, which Russia and China were reportedly trying to undermine, according to Zelensky.
Arrival honors
In black polo shirt and cargo pants, Zelensky was accorded arrival honors at Malacañang at past 8 a.m. before his bilateral meeting with Marcos.
“We are very happy to welcome you President Zelensky to the Philippines and I’m very happy that despite what I know is a very tight travel schedule for both of us. But I’m happy that we are very honored that you found the time to pass by the Philippines,” Marcos said during the meeting.
“I know that the crisis in your country has occupied all of your attention and all of your time. It is a great pleasure to meet with you to discuss some of the issues that are common to our two countries and hopefully find ways for both of us together,” Marcos told the Ukrainian leader.
Responding to Marcos, Zelensky thanked Marcos for supporting his country’s territorial integrity and sovereignty against Russia’s occupation of some Ukrainian territories. This was Zelensky’s first visit to the Philippines and his first meeting with Marcos.
“We are happy to be first time in the Philippines I am sure not last,” Zelensky said. “Thank you for this invitation and we are very thankful to be in your country which supports Ukraine our territorial integrity and sovereignty.
“Thank you so much of your big word, and clear position about us, about this Russian occupation of our territories and thank you on your support on the, in your nation’s… resolutions,” he told Marcos.
Ukraine’s trouble with Russia under Vladimir Putin began in 2014 when Moscow illegally annexed Crimea, a peninsula in Eastern Europe.
Zelensky’s visit came weeks after the US Congress approved $61 billion in fresh military aid to beleaguered Ukrainian forces.
Help in any way possible
Marcos assured Zelensky that the Philippines would continue to help Ukraine in any way possible.
“So, 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 of your country. 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,” the Chief Executive said.
Marcos stressed that the Philippines has always been a firm advocate of international rules-based order, citing the country’s commitment to “do everything it can to promote that peace.”
The Philippines and Ukraine first established diplomatic ties on April 7, 1992.
Ukraine to open embassy
Zelensky said he hopes to see bilateral ties with the Philippines further improve with Kiev’s opening of an embassy in Manila this year.
“And I am also very happy that this year we will open embassy in Manila, that’s very good decision,” Zelensky said.
In response, Marcos said this is “good news.”
During their bilateral meeting, Zelensky also thanked Marcos for the Philippines’ commitment to participate in the inaugural global peace summit slated on June 15 to 16 in Switzerland. Malacañang has yet to confirm whether Marcos would attend the event.
In a post on his official X account yesterday, Zelensky said he discussed with Marcos the inaugural Global Peace Summit and the importance of Southeast Asian countries being represented in the event. “I am pleased that the Philippines will participate in the Summit,” Zelensky said.
Later, in an interview with GMA 7, Zelensky said even if the Philippines is on the other side of the world, its “voice is very important” in stopping Russia’s rampage.
“Your (Philippines) voice is very important. This region is very important,” the Ukrainian leader said, citing Manila’s support for six UN resolutions condemning the Russian invasion and calling for an end to the invasion.
“We’re thankful to the Philippines when you supported us in United Nations,” he said, adding that its vote “is a signal that you don’t want any war.”
Zelensky also warned about the possibility of the war spreading to other regions if democratic nations fail to unite and allow Russia to win.
“That’s why we spoke with the President that now we need unity, because if Ukraine falls down, if Russia will occupy us totally, this war, we will see this war in other continents, and it can be in your direction, in your region. And it’s a big tragedy, a lot of casualties,” he said.
He said peace-loving nations must remain united to stop the spread of war across the globe.
In 2022, Ukraine ranked as the 90th trading partner of the Philippines, the 119th export market, and 76th source of imports. Total trade between the two countries amounted $16.9 million with export valued at $1.49 million and imports at $15.41 million.
Ukraine was home to nearly 200 Filipinos. But the figure went down to 25 after the Russian invasion.
Meanwhile, Bayan president Renato Reyes has warned that the Philippines might turn into “a battleground for inter-imperialist conflicts,” as Marcos and Zelensky were both “pro-US leaders.”
“Ukraine became a casualty of the proxy war between the US and Russia, with NATO expansion in Ukraine being a significant factor in escalating the conflict,” Reyes said.
He pointed out that the US and China are similarly engaged in a power struggle in Asia, with the West Philippine Sea being a central point of contention.
Reyes said the Philippine government should learn from Ukraine’s experience to avoid becoming entangled in US military strategies.
“We should be wary of being a US pawn and should reject all attempts at making the Philippines a US military outpost,” he said.