The Ukraine conflict and its widespread effects became a key point of discussion during President-elect Bongbong Marcos's meeting with two European diplomats on Monday, May 30.
Two of the four diplomats who paid courtesy calls to Marcos at the BBM headquarters in Mandaluyong City Monday were French Ambassador to the Philippines Michele Boccoz and European Union (EU) Ambassador Luc Veron.
Press Secretary-designate Trixie Cruz-Angeles gave a summary of the incoming Philippine leader's meetings with Boccoz and Veron.
With Boccoz, Angeles said both sides "began by congratulating each other for the win of the President-elect and for Emmanuel Macron's reelection as president despite the campaign concurrent with the campaign in Ukraine".
According to Angeles, the two sides also discussed "the effects and impacts of the said conflict on oil, energy, and food security".
"President-elect Marcos cited France as a model for the Philippines in terms of energy-sourcing and generation. Both sides discussed the economy and the plans in this area of the incoming administration," she said.
"Some of the prospective activities to commemorate 75 years of Philippine-France relations were also discussed and briefly discussed toward the meeting was the Indo-Pacific area and strategy as well as issues of overseas Filipinos in France," added the lawyer-slash-blogger.
"The country's call, on the other hand by his excellency Luc Veron of the EU delegation to the Philippines began with President-elect Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and Ambassador Luc Veron discussing issues on the Philippines and European Union relations, including development cooperation which includes support for the peace process in Mindanao," Angeles noted.
She said the two also tackled "trade, disaster-prevention, rule of law, good governance, and human rights".
"They also discussed the situation in Ukraine and how it had been affecting Europe and the Philippines," she further said.
Russia's war with Ukraine has had a significant impact on the world, especially when it comes to fuel and food production. The Philippines has been immune to these effects.
Marcos also hosted courtesy calls from Singaporean Ambassador to the Philippines Gerard Ho, United Kingdom Ambassador to the Philippines Laure Beaufils Monday.