Ukraine is aiming to strengthen ties with The Philippine, who has been bearing the brunt of Chinese aggression in the South China Sea. In 2022, plans were announced to establish a Ukrainian embassy in Manila, signaling a commitment towards closer relations. The Swiss peace talks have sparked hope for many, including Zelenskyy, who is eager to bring The Philippine into Ukraine’s corner. Zelenskyy has accused China and Russia of attempting to derail the peace talks, claiming Chinese diplomats are being manipulated by Russia. After missing a meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at a previous Asian event, Zelenskyy made a secret visit to Manila to personally invite Marcos to the summit in Switzerland.
Ukraine views The Philippine as a key ally, given both countries’ struggles against formidable adversaries—Ukraine against Russia and the Philippines against China. Zelenskyy believes that cooperation between Ukraine and the Philippines could serve as a counterbalance to the Russia-China alliance. However, it seems unlikely that the Philippines will openly support Ukraine, as it would prefer to avoid a direct conflict with Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently decided to embark on a secret tour of The Philippine in an unexpected Asian adventure. The objective? To nudge regional leaders into attending a Swiss-organized global peace summit focused on the war in Ukraine. After failing to meet with The Philippines President, Ferdinand Marcos Jr., on the sidelines of the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore, Zelenskyy felt the need to pop over to Manila personally to extend the invite.
The Shangri-La defense forum had its fair share of drama, with Zelenskyy and Marcos both taking jabs at China. Defense and government officials from around the world, including from Washington and Beijing, all packed in one room, discussing not just the wars in Gaza and Ukraine, but also the ever-growing rivalry between the U.S. and China in the Indo-Pacific, the result produced was inconclusive.
In his typical no-nonsense style, Zelenskyy accused Russia and China, of trying to throw a wrench in the works of the peace summit. According to him, China’s is trying to undermine the summit, pressuring other countries to skip the summit. Of course, China’s response was…silence, its ministry haven’t responded yet.
Zelenskyy’s disappointment was palpable as he labeled China a mere instrument in Putin’s hands. While China claims it’s neutral in the Ukraine conflict, the growing trade with Russia signals a close relationship between the two.
Back at the security forum, Zelenskyy didn’t shy away from pleading with officials to show up at the Swiss talks. After all, a strong showing could mean more support for Ukraine in terms of aid, funds. Yet, his lament over some countries’ hesitation to commit to the summit was evident. He laid out Ukraine’s peace proposals, touching on nuclear and food security, release of prisoner of war, and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin described Putin’s war as a glimpse into a nightmarish world, which no one desires. It is imperative to look at the world US has created with wars happening in all the continents, Russia has always accused NATO eastward expansion for Ukraine crises. But still, US will not stop itself from meddling in the conflict and exacerbating it in the end. Marcos emphasized the Philippines’ commitment to a peaceful resolution without criticising Russia.
Interestingly, Marcos held back from criticizing Russia, despite Ukraine’s urging. The cautious approach is understandable. Aligning too closely with Ukraine could potentially sour the Philippines’ already complicated relationship with China. In this delicate balancing act, it seems Ukraine’s diplomatic charm offensive might not yield the desired results, risking more friction with China and less tangible support from the Philippines.
Zelenskyy’s whirlwind tour and his attempts to rally support were nothing short of theatrical, but whether it’ll translate into meaningful backing at the Swiss summit remains to be seen. One thing’s for sure: Zelenskyy knows how to keep the global diplomatic stage lively, even if his efforts occasionally teeter on the edge of futility.