Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 16) — President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. has clarified that the Philippine government has responded to the request of the Ukrainian government to conduct a phone meeting between him and his Ukranian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Marcos set the record straight on Sunday after the Ukrainian Embassy in Malaysia, which also has jurisdiction over the Philippines, said Manila has yet to reply to a formal request made in June last year for a phone meeting between the two leaders.
Marcos said he was surprised with the pronouncement of Denys Mykhailiuk, chargé d’affaires of the Ukrainian Embassy, last week that the presidential office hasn’t replied to the requests despite constant follow-ups.
“Sinagot namin [We replied], but we didn’t get it — we couldn’t get it scheduled. I have no problem with talking to President Zelensky… Of course we are — again on the side of peace and that remains the same,” he said en route to Davos for the World Economic Forum.
He added the Philippine government is “happy” to support Ukraine.
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine began in February last year, with thousands of civilians killed according to the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights.
Marcos said it is not for the Philippines to comment or support the 10-point peace plan proposed by Zelensky.
“We support any effort towards peace, anything basta’t matigil ang patayan, matigil ang giyera. ‘Yun na muna. Tapos kung papaano nila gagawin, what will they do with the territories that have changed stance, et cetera. That is really clearly between the two countries,” he said.
[Translation: We support efforts towards peace to end the war, that’s it. How they do it is up to the two countries.]
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