Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 13) — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday expressed gratitude to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. for backing the Eastern European nation in a “first phone call in the history of bilateral relations” with the Philippines.
In a tweet, Zelensky thanked Marcos for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, which is locked in a protracted war with Russia.
Had the first phone call in the history of bilateral relations with President of the Philippines @bongbongmarcos. Thanked him for supporting sovereignty & territorial integrity of 🇺🇦. We discussed further deepening of cooperation, in particular on international platforms.
— Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 13, 2023
He added that they talked about strengthening their cooperation, particularly on international platforms.
Responding to Zelensky’s tweet, Marcos on Tuesday reiterated that the Philippines stands in solidarity with Ukraine in its “search for peace.”
The Ukrainian government proposed the phone meeting in June last year, hoping to discuss a number of bilateral issues.
Marcos had previously called for the end of the conflict between Ukraine and Russia, calling it “unacceptable” and claiming that its consequences had been “so far-reaching and profound to the detriment of many economies.”
“I had the pleasure of talking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday,” Marcos wrote. “I told him that we in the Philippines are watching with admiration, the bravery and the nationalism that has been displayed by the Ukrainians during this crisis and that we join in his effort to reach a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in his country.”
