Ukraine’s Zelenskyy stops in Manila, thanks Philippines for support against Russian invasion

UPDATED at 10:18 a.m. ET on 2024-06-03

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Manila on Monday where he thanked his Philippine counterpart for the nation’s clear position on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and announced the opening of an embassy in the capital. 

Zelenskyy arrived unannounced on Sunday night after appearing at Asia’s premier defense conference, the Shangri-La Dialogue forum in Singapore, at the weekend. 

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. delivered the keynote speech at the event, using it to criticize China’s “assertive” moves in the South China Sea and to call for responsible management of the U.S.-China rivalry.

Zelenskyy said he was “very thankful” for Manila’s support of Ukraine after Russia’s invasion in February 2022.

“Thank you so much for your big words and for your position about us, about this Russian invasion of our territories,” he told Marcos, according to transcripts released by the presidential palace.

He also announced that Ukraine would open an embassy in Manila this year.

Marcos said he was “honored” that Zelenskyy had visited the Philippines, which was grappling with a territorial dispute of its own involving China in the South China Sea.

“It is a great pleasure to meet with you to discuss some of the issues that are common to our two countries and hopefully to find ways for both of us together,” Marcos said.

Marcos said the Philippines would continue to do “all that we can to promote peace and to bring an end to the fighting.”

“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,” he said.

A month after Russia invaded Ukraine, the Philippines joined 140 United Nations members in condemning the aggression and demanding Moscow withdraw all its troops from the neighboring country.

Former President Rodrigo Duterte also said he was willing to allow American forces to use Philippine bases and facilities if the crisis in Ukraine spilled over into the Asia region.

China has refused to condemn Moscow’s aggression against Ukraine and declared a “no limits” friendship shortly before the Russian invasion. 

Speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue on Sunday, Zelenskyy accused China of trying to undermine a Swiss-organized global peace summit later this month on the Russian-Ukraine war. 

He said Beijing was pressing other countries and their leaders, which the  Ukrainian leader did not identify, against attending the event. 

“Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” Zelenskyy said. “Regrettably, this is unfortunate that such a big, independent, powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of [Russian president Vladimir] Putin.”

Beijng’s foreign ministry denied the accusation. 

“There is no such thing as China pressuring other countries,” spokesperson Mao Ning said in a news conference on Monday. “China’s position on the peace conference is fair and just. Our position does not target any party and certainly not this particular summit organized by Switzerland.”

Switzerland said it had invited over 160 delegates from all over the world to attend the first Summit on Peace in Ukraine, scheduled for June 15-16 at the Bürgenstock Resort.

This story was updated to include more quotes from Ferdinand Marcos Jr., Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and Mao Ning, a spokesperson for China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.