Aside from conveying his support to Ukraine's search for peace, President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. has also thanked Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelenskyy for ensuring the safe exit of Filipinos when the war between Ukraine and Russia ensued.
In a statement, the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) disclosed the details of the conversation of Marcos and Zelenskyy via phone call on Monday, Feb. 13.
According to the DFA, Marcos underscored the Philippines’ support for previous United Nations (UN) resolutions which reaffirmed the sovereignty, territorial integrity and political independence of Ukraine and other UN member states.
"The President also conveyed his gratitude to President Zelenskyy for ensuring the safe passage of Filipino nationals who were repatriated from Ukraine during the conflict," the DFA said.
As he said in his statement on Feb. 14, Marcos told his counterpart that the Philippines will continue to support the peaceful resolution of the crisis in Ukraine.
Zelenskyy, on the other hand, thanked Marcos for the "Philippines’ support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and the country’s clear position on the conflict."
The Ukrainian President also requested for continued Philippine support in the UN and other related fora.
He likewise expressed hope for the future of Philippines-Ukraine relations, as Ukraine considers the Philippines a strategic partner in the region
The two leaders finally had an opportunity to talk to each other a month after Marcos denied snubbing the European leader amid the effort of the Ukrainian side to seek an opportunity for the two leaders to talk but to no avail.
Ukrainian Charges D’Affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia Denys Mykhailiuk said they have been trying to have the two leaders talk to each other since Marcos assumed office in June 2022 but to no avail.