Philippines–Ukraine relations explained

Filetype:svg
Envoytitle1:Ambassador
Envoytitle2:Ambassador
Envoy1:Leah M. Basinang-Ruiz
Envoy2:Olexander Nechytaylo

The bilateral relations of the Philippines and Ukraine began with a formal agreement in 1992. Neither country has a resident ambassador. Ukraine has a non-resident ambassador in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.[1] The Philippines is represented by its embassy in Warsaw, Poland.[2]

History

The Philippines recognized Ukraine's independence on 22 January 1992 and formal relations began on 7 April 1992. Until June 1993, bilateral relations were maintained through the Philippine embassy in Poland. Prior to December 2004, Ukraine maintained relations with the Philippines through its embassies in Indonesia and Vietnam.[3]

Starting in 1993, the Philippine embassy in Moscow handled bilateral relations with Ukraine, but has since moved to the Philippine embassy in Warsaw. Since December 2004, Ukraine maintained its relations with the Philippines through its embassy in Tokyo, but has since moved it to its ambassador in Kuala Lumpur.

In April 1997 a Ukrainian parliamentary delegation to Manila signed an interparliamentary cooperation agreement.[4] In July 2003 Philippine Vice-President Teofisto Guingona met Ukrainian Foreign Minister Anatoliy Zlenko in Manila.[5] At the meeting, they signed a protocol on political cooperation. In June 2005, Speaker Jose de Venecia led a House delegation to Ukraine, and met with Ukrainian President Victor Yushchenko and other top officials.[6] They discussed Christian-Muslim interfaith dialogue, the development of two energy plants in the Philippines by the Ukrainian company Sukhin Energy Incorporated,[7] and a debt conversion initiative.

As of June 2019, there are 342 Overseas Filipinos in Ukraine, and the Philippine government has been actively attending to them and promoting the country's interests through the Honorary Consulate in Kyiv.[8] As of March 2020, around 200 Ukrainians are residing in the Philippines.[9]

Amidst the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Department of Foreign Affairs raised Alert Level 4, signifying the mandatory evacuation of all Filipino nationals from Ukraine. The Philippines evacuated 342 of its nationals by March 2022.[10] Under Philippine president Rodrigo Duterte, the Philippines voted in favor of the United Nations resolution condemning the Russian invasion.[11] Philippine Presidential candidate Bongbong Marcos has said: "“I don’t think there is a need to make a stand. We are not involved, except for our nationals.”[12] In November 2022, during the APEC summit in Thailand, President Marcos has said that the war is "unacceptable" and has urged peace between the two nations.[13]

Ukraine seeks to establish an embassy in the Philippines, but budgetary constraints have delayed this endeavor. On the other hand, in June 2022, Foreign Affairs Secretary Teodoro Locsin Jr. said that the Philippines seeks to establish an embassy in Ukraine.[14] However, as of January 2023, the Philippines has not made any requests to establish an embassy in Kyiv.[15]

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited Manila on 3 June 2024, and met with President Marcos, making Zelenskyy the first Ukrainian president to visit the Philippines.[16] During this visit, Zelenskyy confirmed that Ukraine would open an embassy in the Philippines that year.[17] Zelenskyy also announced that the Philippines would attend a Ukraine-organized peace conference being held in Switzerland and thanked the Philippines for its support.[18] Following Zelenskyy's request, Marcos assured Zelenskyy that he will allow the Philippines to send Filipino mental health workers to Ukraine to help Ukrainian soldiers.[19]

Agreements

The Philippines and Ukraine have seven bilateral agreements in place:[20]

Economic relations

Bilateral trade between Ukraine and the Philippines amounted to $20.21 million in a six-month period in 2012. The Philippine negative trade balance for the same period amounted to $15.59 million. Among Ukraine's main export to the Philippines during the period are feed wheat,[22] coloring materials, machinery for metal stamping, forging, bending, alignment, cutting, press, whey, ammonia.

The Philippines imports from Ukraine during the same six month in 2012 amounted to $17.90 million. Among the Philippines main import from Ukraine are electrical products, electronic integrated circuits and electronic micro modules. Among the Philippines main export to Ukraine are bells, gongs, statuettes, frames and mirrors, of base metal, printing equipment, printing machines, auxiliary machine for printing, automatic data processing machines and units thereof and tobacco products.[23]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Philippines . 11 January 2023 . Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine.
  2. Web site: Ramos . Christia Marie . 7 March 2022 . PH orders mandatory evacuation of Filipinos in Ukraine; raises crisis alert level 4 . 11 January 2022 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  3. Web site: Ukrainian-Filipino relations - Embassy of Ukraine to Japan . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20131118135740/http://japan.mfa.gov.ua/en/ukraine-philippines/political-issues . 18 November 2013 . 10 June 2013 . Japan.mfa.gov.ua.
  4. News: Ukraine and Philippines sign interparliamentary cooperation agreement. 17 June 2013. Radio Ukraine World Service. 14 April 1997. Kyiv.
  5. News: Ukraine, Philippines sign diplomatic cooperation accord. 17 June 2013. 14 July 2003. Interfax-Ukraine news agency. Kyiv.
  6. News: PHILIPPINES, UKRAINE FORGE CLOSER TIES.. 17 June 2013. Asia Pulse. 29 June 2005. Asia Africa Intelligence Wire. Kyiv.
  7. News: Ukraine firm to build Masbate power plant using coconuts. 17 June 2013. The Manila Times. 6 July 2005. B2.
  8. https://globalnation.inquirer.net/99817/filipinos-in-ukraine-told-to-prepare-for-evacuation https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=221048562308430
  9. Web site: Embassy of Ukraine in Malaysia - Bilateral Relations between Ukraine and the Philippines .
  10. Web site: Rocamora . Joyce Ann L. . 23 March 2022 . Filipino repatriates from war-torn Ukraine reach 342: DFA . 11 January 2023 . Philippine News Agency.
  11. News: Romero . Alexis . Duterte says he wants Philippines to remain neutral in Russia-Ukraine conflict . 4 June 2024 . . March 5, 2022 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240604103012/https://qa.philstar.com/headlines/2022/03/05/2165137/duterte-says-he-wants-philippines-remain-neutral-russia-ukraine-conflict . 4 June 2024.
  12. Web site: Mercado . Neil Arwin . 1 March 2022 . Marcos on Ukraine-Russia conflict: ‘No need to make a stand’ . 11 January 2023 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  13. Web site: Fernandez . Daniza . 19 November 2022 . Bongbong Marcos says Russia-Ukraine war is ‘unacceptable’ . 11 January 2023 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  14. Web site: Tomacruz . Sofia . 12 June 2022 . Philippines to open embassy in Ukraine . 11 January 2023 . Rappler.
  15. Web site: Mangaluz . Jean . 11 January 2023 . No response from PH as Ukraine reaches out for months to discuss Russian conflict . 11 January 2023 . Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  16. News: ul Khaliq . Riyaz . Zelenskyy 1st Ukrainian president to visit Philippines . 5 June 2024 . . 3 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240605071950/https://www.aa.com.tr/en/asia-pacific/zelenskyy-1st-ukrainian-president-to-visit-philippines/3238265 . 5 June 2024 . live.
  17. News: Maralit . Kristina . Marcos meets Zelenskyy . 3 June 2024 . . 3 June 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240603012342/https://www.manilatimes.net/2024/06/03/news/marcos-meets-zelenskyy/1949734 . 3 June 2024.
  18. Web site: 2024-06-03 . Zelenskyy says Philippines to participate in peace conference . 2024-06-03 . Voice of America . en.
  19. News: Villeza . Helen Flores,Mark Ernest . Zelensky seeking mental health workers from Philippines . 4 June 2024 . . June 4, 2024 . https://web.archive.org/web/20240604101919/https://www.philstar.com/headlines/2024/06/04/2360193/zelensky-seeking-mental-health-workers-philippines . 4 June 2024.
  20. Web site: Bilateral Agreements between Ukraine the Republic of the Philippines. 20 June 2013.
  21. News: Adlawan. Rizel S.. Tourism credited for Cebu-Crimea sisterhood. 20 June 2013. Sun Star Cebu. 28 November 2010.
  22. News: Sandique-Carlos. Rhea. Philippines Buys 40,000 Tons Ukraine Wheat At $180/Ton, C&F. 17 June 2013. 23 October 2008. Dow Jones Newswires.
  23. Web site: Trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and Philippines - Embassy of Ukraine to Japan . Japan.mfa.gov.ua . 10 June 2013.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Philippines–Ukraine relations".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.