Duterte: Putin is suicidal, PHL to eventually make a stand

President Rodrigo Duterte on Friday said the Philippines must stay “neutral” but has to eventually make a stand amid the heightened conflict between Russia and Ukraine, saying that Russian President Vladimir Putin is “suicidal.”

In his speech during the inauguration of Narvacan Farmers Market in Ilocos Sur, Duterte said he is hoping that the rising tension between both countries will not lead to a war of nuclear bombs as the whole world will be affected.

“I just prayed to God that this will not really go out of control. 'Pag hindi ito na-control delikado ang mundo once they start to push the buttons of nuclear bombs, sabi nga ng isang commentator it will melt the world,” Duterte said.

(I just prayed to God that this will not really go out of control. If it is not controlled the world will be in danger once they start to push the buttons of nuclear bombs, as one commentator said, it will melt the world.)

“We stay neutral but reality tells me in the end we just have to select which side we would be. Ako umaga pa nagbabantay na ako bahala na magpatayan sila doon 'wag lang gumamit ng nuclear device because talo na tayong lahat, pati tayo damay,” he added.

(We stay neutral but reality tells me in the end we just have to select which side we would be. I'm still monitoring this morning, for me it is up to them to kill each other, just don't use a nuclear device because we will lose, including us.)

Duterte also recalled that he made a statement six years ago before he became the president. He said that he was asked about Russia.

“I made a statement six years ago before I became the president, pinadescribe at tinanong ako about Russia and nagkaano na talaga sila sabi ko Americans will never stomach death and destruction. Takot sila, takot sila,” he said.

(I made a statement six years ago before I became the president, they let me describe and asked me about Russia and I said Americans will never stomach death and destruction. They are scared.)

“But you watch out for Putin, he is suicidal, talagang pag mapahiya siya dito magwawala ‘yan and I realize it when I went to Russia. I had a talk with him on all aspects of life. Sabi niya na magkaibigan tayo, sabi ko wala akong away sa inyo,” he added.

(But you watch out for Putin, he is suicidal, if he gets embarrassed he will be enraged. I realized this when I went to Russia. I had a talk with him on all aspects of life. He said we were friends, I said we don’t have nothing to fight about.)

Last May 2017, Duterte visited Russia for a three-day official trip upon the invitation of Putin. He said that the trip was meant to boost Philippines-Russia relations to its full potential.

The Philippines earlier appealed for an immediate stop in the violence in Ukraine following Russia's invasion and called on the parties involved to forge a peace accord.

Meanwhile, the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday overwhelmingly voted to reprimand Russia for invading Ukraine and demanded that Moscow stop fighting and withdraw its military forces, an action that aims to diplomatically isolate Russia at the world body.

The resolution, supported by 141 of the assembly's 193 members, passed in a rare emergency session called by the UN Security Council while Ukrainian forces battled to defend the port of Kherson in the face of air strikes and a devastating bombardment that forced hundreds of thousands of people to flee.

Washington has imposed several rounds of sanctions, including against Putin and the central bank, since Russia's forces invaded Ukraine in the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two. Moscow calls the assault a "special operation."—LDF, GMA News