The Philippine government, for the first time, broke its silence on Russia’s invasion of neighboring Ukraine and joined the United Nations General Assembly resolution expressing “explicit condemnation of the invasion of Ukraine.”

After voting “yes” to an UNGA resolution on Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, it also called on concerned parties to resort to the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes, saying that “it will at least halt the ongoing tragedy for a while.”

The 1982 Manila declaration refers to the “obligation of all States to settle their international disputes by peaceful means in such a manner that international peace and security, and justice, are not endangered.”

It also stressed “the obligation for all States to refrain in their international relations from the threat or use of force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any State, or in any other manner inconsistent with the purposes of the United Nations.”

“In the current fog of lies, we have yet to determine the true casualties on both sides. We appeal for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructures. We strongly urge the cessation of hostilities; but while an offense can be stopped at will the defense cannot rest until the offense stops,” the statement from the Philippines Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York said.

A copy of the statement was posted by the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) on its official Twitter account.

“We especially condemn the use of separatism and secession as a weapon of diplomacy for inviting and inflicting terrible cruelties and indiscriminate killings far in excess of that of any other kind of conflict. We saw this in the Balkans and in Africa,” it added.

READ: DFA to Filipinos in Ukraine: 'Do not panic; repatriation is ongoing'

The agency stressed that while “no one can trust news reports of casualties on either side,” the emerging figure of some 14,000 killed since 2014 cannot be neglected.

“We call for massive assistance commensurate with the growing humanitarian crisis and echo the UN Secretary General’s appeal for respect of humanitarian principles to protect civilians and civilian infrastructures in Ukraine,” the statement read.

It called for “safe access to humanitarian assistance” and the recognition of the “principle of sovereignty and the sovereign equality of States is enshrined in the UN Charter.”

“All States enjoy the right to full sovereignty in all their areas of jurisdiction. The Charter of the UN requires sovereign states to refrain from the use of force against the political independence and territorial integrity of any state,” the statement added.

Russian forces, on the orders of President Vladimir Putin, launched an all-out invasion of Ukraine by land, sea, and air last week, signaling the biggest attack by one state against another in Europe since the Second World War.

Reports said Russian missiles targeted Ukrainian cities, confirming the worst of the West’s fears. Troops also crossed land borders and landed by sea in the southern cities.

The invasion came after months of speculations that Putin would recognize the breakaway People’s Republics of Donetsk and Luhansk (DNR and LNR), which are considered separatist groups in Ukraine.