Marcos, Germany's Chancellor call for continuous support for Ukraine

BERLIN, Germany - President Ferdinand ''Bongbong'' Marcos Jr. and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Tuesday called for continuous support for Ukraine.

''We all would like to have a more peaceful situation certainly in the Ukraine,'' Marcos said during the joint press conference at The Chancellery during his working visit in Germany.

The Philippine president said that the situation in Ukraine continues to be a global challenge, saying that it also has effects towards Manila. 

''It is not some—the interconnection of the global economy… such that an occurrence, such a conflict, no matter how far away from the Philippines does affect still the Philippines and the region,'' he said.

For his part, Scholz said all members of the European Union should continue extending support towards war-torn Ukraine.

''My position is that we have to continue to support Ukraine. And I’m talking not only Germany here, but I’m talking of all the members of the European Union. We have to be at their side as long as it takes for Ukraine to be able to defend itself,'' Scholz said as translated in English.

''And I’m sure and confident that that is also going to be the position of the European Union in all the upcoming decisions,'' he added. 

A Reuters report said that around 31,000 Ukrainian soldiers had been killed since the Russian invasion in February 2022 and that tens of thousands of civilians had been killed in the occupied areas of the country. — Reuters