By Veronica Uy
The Philippines has accepted Ukraine’s invitation to attend the inaugural Global Peace Summit in Lucerne, Switzerland in June, it was learned Monday.
In an unannounced first visit to the Philippines, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Ukraine met with President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. early Monday morning in Malacañang Palace and personally extended the invitation.
“President Zelenskyy expressed gratitude to President Marcos for the decision to participate in the Global Peace Summit. We can confirm that the Philippines will participate in the Summit,” said Denys Mykhailiuk, Chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia who accompanied Zelenskyy to the Philippines.
Aside from the inaugural Summit and the importance of Southeast Asian countries being represented there, the two heads of state also talked about bilateral cooperation, particularly Ukrainian agricultural exports to the Philippines.
Zelenskyy arrived in Manila late Sunday evening from Singapore, where he attended the Shangri-La Dialogue.
Marcos delivered the keynote address at the Dialogue, highlighting the importance of a rules-based order in the Philippines’ engagement with an aggressive China in the South China Sea.
Last week, the Ukraine leader elected president in 2019 flew in to Southeast Asia just as his country faced nonstop assault from Russia.
At the same Singapore dialogue, Zelenskyy accused both Russia and China of trying to undermine the Global Peace Summit. He urged world leaders to join the Summit for a unified strategy in ending Russia’s increased aggression against Ukraine.
More than 80 countries have heeded Zelenskyy’s call, among them Swiss President Viola Amherd.