Marcos Open to Talks with Zelenskyy, Supports ‘Effort Toward Peace’

President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on Sunday said that he is open to meeting Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy amid the recent reports of the Philippines ignoring Ukraine’s calls for talks between the two leaders.

Marcos denied ignoring Kyiv’s calls for talks between him and Zelenskyy, and attributed the failure of the two leaders to talk on the lack of further discussion on the matter.

Marcos made the remarks after reports surfaced about Manila’s supposed snubbing of Kyiv’s continued inquiries for possible talks between Marcos and Zelenskyy.

This comes as the Chargé d’Affaires of the Ukraine Embassy in Malaysia Denys Mykhailiuk said that their government has been trying to set up a call since June 2022, to no avail.

Moreover, Mykhailiuk added that Kyiv has been following up on the request since then, to which Manila said that the call is being considered.

Marcos told reporters onboard PR001 going to Switzerland for the World Economic Forum that the Philippine government is surprised with Mykhailiuk’s statements, which put Manila in a bad light.

Department of Foreign Affairs Undersecretary Carlos Sorreta said last week that the statement made by Mykhailiuk, publicizing the diplomatic communication between the Philippines and Ukraine was “not a good diplomatic practice.”

Mykhailiuk already apologized for the supposed misunderstanding during an interview with ABS-CBN News Channel.

Meanwhile, Marcos said that while the Philippines is in no position to decide on matters pertaining to Zelenskyy’s proposed 10-point peace plan, the Philippines will give support “any effort toward peace”.

Moreover, Marcos added that regarding the actual call between him and Zelenskyy that he has no qualms about the proposed talks and that he is willing to set up the call with Zelenskyy himself. (GFB)