PH, Ukraine agree to deepen cooperation on food security, agriculture, digital tech
President Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr. and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (Marcos/Zelenskyy X accounts/File)
President Marcos and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy agreed to strengthen cooperation in food security, agriculture, and digitalization during a phone call between the two leaders.
Both leaders said this as they engaged in a phone conversation on Thursday, Nov. 27.
In a Facebook post, Marcos said the discussion reaffirmed the “warm relations” between Manila and Kyiv as both sides committed to expanding practical partnerships that would benefit their citizens.
“We focused on cooperation in food security, agriculture, and digitalization,” he said, adding that technical teams from both governments will begin follow-through coordination in the coming weeks.
Zelenskyy, for his part, confirmed that the Philippines was looking into Ukraine’s “expertise and technologies,” expressing readiness to work with Manila on agricultural and digital systems.
“We agreed that our teams will follow up on all these matters in the near future,” he said.
ASEAN–Ukraine ties
Marcos said he and Zelenskyy also discussed strengthening ASEAN–Ukraine relations ahead of the Philippines’ assumption of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations chairship next year.
“We discussed ways to strengthen ASEAN–Ukraine engagement for the benefit of our peoples,” he said.
Zelenskyy likewise noted that Kyiv was prepared to deepen ties with the region and welcomed the Philippines’ role in facilitating peace efforts.
“I briefed him on our joint work with the United States and other partners on the steps toward establishing a guaranteed peace,” the Ukrainian leader said.
“I am grateful for the Philippines’ support for the peace efforts, for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and for the clear stance,” he added.
Marcos did not disclose other details of the phone call but said the conversation further reinforced Manila’s warm ties with Kyiv.
Condolences for typhoon casualties
On the other hand, President Zelenskyy expressed his sympathy for the lives lost and communities affected by recent typhoons in the Philippines.
“I expressed condolences to the President for the lives lost and the destruction caused by the typhoons,” he said in his post.
Early this month, President Marcos placed the entire country under a state of calamity due to the effects brought by the consecutive typhoons.