Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has appeared in the Philippines to urge regional leaders to attend a Swiss-organised global peace summit on the war in Ukraine that he accuses Russia and China of trying to undermine.
Mr Zelensky arrived unannounced and under heavy security in Manila on Sunday after speaking over the weekend at the Shangri-La defence forum in Singapore.
He was given a red carpet welcome with military honours on Monday at the presidential palace before meeting Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.
In a recording released by the administration, Mr Zelensky seemed to indicate that Mr Marcos accepted the invitation, though it was not clear if the Filipino leader agreed to personally attend the peace summit in Switzerland or to send a representative.
“I’m happy to hear today from you that you’ll participate in our peace steps,” Mr Zelensky told Mr Marcos. “It’s a very strong signal.”
Mr Marcos’ administration did not immediately comment on the matter.
Ukraine, Mr Zelensky said, will also open an embassy in Manila, a decision Mr Marcos welcomed as it would help facilitate more assistance to the war-ravaged nation.
“We continue to do all that we can to promote peace and to bring an end to the fighting,” Mr Marcos said.
Mr Zelensky had planned but failed to meet with Marcos on the sidelines of the annual defence gathering in Singapore and decided to fly to Manila to personally invite Mr Marcos to attend the summit in Switzerland.
Both leaders spoke critically of China at the Singapore forum, which was attended by top defence and government officials from around the world, including from Washington and Beijing.
The talks were held amid the raging wars in Gaza and Ukraine as well as growing tensions and rivalry for influence between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region.
At a news conference in Singapore on Sunday, Mr Zelensky accused China of helping Russia to disrupt the Swiss-organised peace summit by pressuring other countries and their leaders not to attend the talks.
“Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit,” he said, without elaborating.
“Regrettably, this is unfortunate that such a big independent powerful country as China is an instrument in the hands of (Russian leader Vladimir) Putin.”
China has taken what it says is a neutral position on the war, putting it at odds with Ukraine, the US and most of Europe and its trade with Russia has grown, easing the economic impact of Western sanctions.
American, Ukrainian and other intelligence agencies say there is evidence that Chinese parts are being used in Russian weaponry, even if China is not directly arming its neighbour.
Switzerland had been hoping China would attend the peace conference in mid-June, but Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning signalled on Friday that that was unlikely.
At the security forum, Mr Zelensky urged top defence officials to participate in the talks in Switzerland, expressing disappointment over the failure of some countries to commit to attending.
Ukraine, he said, has proposals to make at the summit as a basis for peace, addressing nuclear security, food security, the release of prisoners of war and the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine is “ready to hear various proposals and thoughts that lead us … to an end of the war and a sustainable and just peace”.
US defence secretary Lloyd Austin met with Mr Zelensky on the sidelines of the conference and renewed US commitments to Ukraine.
In an address to the forum on Saturday, Mr Austin said that “Putin’s war of aggression has provided us all with a preview of a world that none of us would want”.
Mr Marcos, whose country has had escalating clashes with China over disputed islets in the South China Sea, bluntly underlined the dangers of the regional flashpoint Friday at the defence forum.
He said that if “a wilful act” should result in a Filipino citizen dying in the high-seas hostilities, “that is, I think, very, very close to what we define as an act of war”, and: “That would certainly increase the level of response.”
