DFA official says Ukrainian diplomat's vent 'not good diplomatic practice'
An official of the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) has called out a Ukrainian diplomat for telling members of the Philippine press that the government is not responding to Ukraine's request for a phone talk between President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr. and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
In a press conference on Thursday, DFA Undersecretary for Multilateral Affairs and International Economic Relations Carlos Sorreta said what Ukrainian Embassy in Malaysia Charge d'Affaires Denys Mykhailiuk did was "not good diplomatic practice."
Sorreta made the remark after Mykhailiuk held a virtual press conference on Wednesday to talk about the developments on the Ukraine-Russia conflict as well as Ukraine's request for a dialogue between Marcos and Zelenskyy to seek for the Philippines' help in the United Nations assemblies.
"This might be the participation on this peace formula," Mykhailiuk said, referring to the drafting and preparation of "events and means to achieve the goal set by the plan," which includes the restoration of Ukraine's territorial integrity and the punishment for Russian aggression.
In the press conference, the Ukrainian diplomat said his government has been making follow ups with the Philippines twice a week, but the Palace has not responded to them yet since June 2022.
Sorreta said Ukraine is a country with which the Philippines has had a good relationship.
"But when matters like this are vented by a representative of another government through the press, it's not something that we appreciate," he added.
Sorreta said that if Mykhailiuk is pushing for a dialogue between the two leaders, the foreign ministries of the Philippines and Ukraine "have to discuss it."
"These things are arranged... talking points...there's pre discussion," he said.
In a statement, DFA spokesperson Ma. Teresita Daza said DFA Sec. Enrique Manalo and Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba already met at the sidelines of the 40th and 41st ASEAN Summits in Cambodia.
Daza said the Philippines already issued its stand on the Ukraine-Russia conflict through a UN resolution as well as through a joint statement in the joint statement of the ASEAN and European Union leaders in Brussels in December.
"We see the European Union's 10-Point Plan for stronger European coordination on welcoming people fleeing the war from Ukraine as a meaningful response to the UN resolutions on Ukraine, all of which we have strongly supported, particularly on the protection of civilians," Daza said.