DFA slams ‘venting’ for Marcos-Zelenskiy call by Ukraine envoy

An official from the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFA) said Thursday that Ukraine should not have made public its requests for a discussion with President Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.

"First of all we don't really appreciate when these things are done... Ukraine is a country that we have good relationship with... but when matters like these are vented by representatives of another government through the press, it's not something we appreciate," Undersecretary Carlos Sorreta said during a Palace briefing.

"If he wants this to happen, we have to discuss it. These things are arranged, talking points are discussed. There's pre-discussion... It is not good diplomatic practice to be doing it the way he did. I think I'll leave it at that," he added.

Denys Mykhailiuk, chargé d’affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia, said that Ukraine has been requesting a phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and Marcos since the latter’s election in June 2022 but has yet to receive any response from the Palace.

"What we would like to get some more political support on the bilateral level. We have asked, for six months now, for a telephone call between the presidents to discuss the cooperation between the two of our countries," he told reporters in an online forum.

"We were requesting the phone call between the president of Ukraine and, in that time, President-elect Marcos. We haven't gotten a reply from the presidential office yet," he added.

"We do understand that the priority for the Philippine government is contacts with the neighboring countries and we see the very fruitful visit to China, but we are still hoping that the intensification of the bilateral dialogue will be fruitful for our relations," Mykhailiuk added.

He added that Ukraine would be "more than thankful" for any donations, amid Russia's continuing invasion of the country.

"We are also running out of our military arsenal and we would be thankful for any ammunition or any military help in this respect. We do understand the Philippines is quite far from the battlefield and there are tense situation with the neighbors and need weapons for themselves, but any help with the medical equipment or sanitary goods needed for the displaced people would be great," he said.

Ukraine was invaded by Russia in late February last year, in what President Vladimir Putin claimed is a "special military operation" to "de-Nazify" the country. The invasion has been denounced by most countries, including the Philippines.  — BM, GMA Integrated News