PBBM to Zelenskyy: We’re with you in your search for peace

PRESIDENT Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. has assured Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Filipinos are with him for a peaceful resolution in the raging Russiaukraine conflict.

Marcos made the commitment during a phone call with Zelenskyy last Monday.

“I had the pleasure of talking to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy yesterday [Monday]. I told him that we in the Philippines are watching with admiration, the bravery and the nationalism that has been displayed by the Ukrainians during this crisis,” Marcos said in a tweet.

And that we join in his effort to reach a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict in his country. “Mr. President, we are with you in your search for peace,” Marcos told Zelenskyy.

For his part, Zelenskyy thanked Marcos for supporting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine.

“Had the first phone call in the history of bilateral relations with the President of the Philippines. Thanked him for supporting sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine,” he said.

“We discussed further deepening of cooperation, in particular on international platforms,” Zelenskyy added.

In an AP report, Martin Griffiths, the UN humanitarian chief, said that nearly 8 million Ukrainians have fled to neighboring countries since the war started last year and 5.3 million are displaced within the country.

He told the UN Security Council Monday that 17.6 million Ukrainians—almost 40 percent of the population—need humanitarian assistance.

Griffiths said that he would be launching an appeal later this month in Geneva to raise $3.9 billion to help more than 11 million people this year.