Zelensky in Philippines to promote peace

President Zelensky arrives at the Malacañan Palace in Manila. Pic/X

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was in the Philippines on Monday in a rare Asian trip to urge regional leaders to attend a Swiss-organised global peace summit on the war in Ukraine that he accuses Russia, with China's help, of trying to undermine.

Zelensky arrived in Manila late Sunday after speaking over the weekend at the Shangri-La defence forum in Singapore.

He had planned but failed to meet with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr on the sidelines of that annual defence gathering and decided to fly here to personally invite Marcos to attend the summit in Switzerland, two Filipino officials told AP. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because of a lack of authority to discuss details of Zelensky's trip to Manila.

Both leaders spoke critically of China at the defence forum in Singapore, attended by top defence and government officials.

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