By Brian Jules Campued
President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy vowed on Monday to strengthen the 32-year-old diplomatic relations between the Philippines and Ukraine as Kyiv is set to open its embassy in Manila this year.
Zelenskyy arrived in the Philippines on Sunday for a one-day working visit with Marcos at the Malacañan Palace following their participation at the 21st IISS Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore last week.
In a meeting, Zelenskyy thanked Marcos for the Philippines’ support to his country, particularly in the United Nations resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“We’re very thankful to be in your country and — which supports Ukraine and our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” the Ukrainian leader told Marcos.
“Thank you so much [for] your big word and clear position with our task about this Russian occupation of our territories. And thank you for your support in the [United] Nations with your resolutions,” he added.
According to the Presidential Communications Office (PCO), the Philippines has consistently voted in favor of six UN resolutions on Ukraine regarding its sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence, highlighting “the need for a comprehensive, just, and lasting peace” in the eastern European country.
Fighting between Russia and Ukraine has been raging for over two years, after Moscow launched a full-scale invasion of Kyiv on Feb. 24, 2022.
Marcos, likewise, assured Zelenskyy that the Philippines will continue to promote peace and support efforts to come to a political resolution to the war and bring an end to the fighting.
“So, we have ourselves been trying to promote the continuing adherence to international law in our part of the world. The issues that you are facing are similar and in parallel to ours. And therefore the position the Philippines takes is always to promote peace and to do everything that we can to promote that peace,” the Chief Executive said.
He also welcomed Ukraine’s plan to open an embassy in Manila.
“That’s certainly very good news because we would very much like to continue to help, in any way, that the Philippines can through the multilateral and United Nations and even through other agencies such as the EU, such as the UN,” Marcos told Zelensky.
Zelenskyy also expressed his gratitude to Marcos for the Philippines’ participation in the peace summit in Switzerland in June.
The country’s participation, according to Zelenskyy, sends a “very strong signal” for Ukraine’s road to peace.
In need of mental health workers
Meanwhile, Zelenskyy also asked Marcos for humanitarian assistance, particularly in the mental health of Ukrainian soldiers amid the ongoing crisis in their country.
“Thanks, you mentioned about humanitarian possibilities especially for medicine and like I said to you, especially, psychological mental health and etc, – army. So, you understand how many people need their help when they come back, they can’t lose in the families,” Zelenskyy said.
“It’s difficult for them — to study again,” he added.
Marcos said the Philippines can offer them help by sending Filipino mental health workers.
He stressed that “the Philippines is quite well-known in healthcare in terms of providing assistance,” which is part of the country’s commitment to the UN for the 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,” he added. – avds