Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked President Marcos for the Philippines' registration for the Swiss-organized peace conference on the war in Ukraine on June 15, saying it sends a "strong signal" and an important step toward peace.

Zelenskyy said this during his unannounced bilateral meeting with Marcos in Malacañan on Monday morning, June 3.

"I’m happy to hear today from you that you participate [in] our peace steps, steps to the peace that really think what really want our people just to bring peace to our homes," the Ukranian leader said. 

"Thank you for the participation of Peace Summit, that’s very strong signal. Like I said we have for today more than 100 countries, I think it's, maybe not the last, but again first, very strong step on the way to peace," he added. He said last week that 106 countries have signified to participate in the peace conference.

President Zelenskyy also thanked President Marcos for the country's support for Ukraine amid its ongoing war with Russia.

"Thank you so much for your big word and your position about us, about this Russian occupation of our territories," he said.

"Thank you for your support, your donations, your contributions," he added.

Both Marcos and Zelenskyy were in Singapore last week for the 21st International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) Shangri-La Dialogue. However, they were not able to meet.

In his remarks during their meeting in Manila, President Marcos thanked his Ukrainian counterpart for finding the time to visit the Philippines.

"We were unable to find time when we were in Singapore. But I’m happy that we are very honored that you found the time to pass by the Philippines," he said.

"I know that the crisis in your country has occupied all of your attention and all of your time," he added.

Marcos wished that their meeting was under better circumstances.

"It is a great pleasure to meet with you to discuss some of the issues that are common to our two countries and hopefully find ways for both of us together," he said.

"Once again, I wish it were under better circumstances but I’m happy that you are able to come and visit with us," he added.

Marcos assured Zelenskyy that the Philippines will continue helping Ukraine in any way it can.

"We would very much to continue to help in any way that the Philippines can through the multilateral United Nations and even through agencies, such as the EU (European Union)," he said.

"We’ll continue to do all that we can to promote peace, and to bring an end to the fighting," he added. 

Meanwhile, President Zelenskyy said that Ukraine will open its embassy in Manila this year.

"I am also very happy that this year we will open embassy in Manila, that’s very good decision," he said.

This is the first time the two leaders would talk following their phone conversation in February last year where they discussed deepening the relationship between the Philippines and Ukraine.

In November 2022, President Marcos described the war between the two European countries, which started with Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, as "unacceptable," and urged both parties to resolve the conflict diplomatically.

In a forum in Washington, D.C., last year, he raised the need to protect the sovereignty of each nation in the face of the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.

Marcos also said the Philippines had been straightforward in supporting the resolutions passed by the United Nations (UN) in the war in Ukraine.