IN PHOTOS: Ukraine’s Zelenskyy visits Manila

MANILA, Philippines – For the first time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was in Manila on a visit that was expected to catch the attention of Russia and China.

He flew in Sunday night, June 2, and left the country the following day, after his morning meeting with President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.

HISTORIC VISIT. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrives at the Malacañang Palace for a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 3, 2024. Presidential Communications Office

ZELENSKYY SIGNS GUESTBOOK. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signs the Malacañang Palace guestbook before the bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on June 3, 2024. Presidential Communications Office

In their historic meeting on Monday, June 3, Zelenskyy thanked Marcos or his “clear position” on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine’s territories, and for confirming to participate in the Ukraine peace summit on June 15 and 16 in Switzerland.

ZELENSKYY IN MALACAÑANG. Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. welcomes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Malacañang Palace on June 3, 2024. Pool/Reuters

TWO PRESIDENTS. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers his opening remarks during a bilateral meeting with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the Malacañang Palace on June 3, 2024. Pool/Reuters

Zelenskyy was in Singapore over the weekend to attend the Shangri-La Dialogue, Asia’s premier security conference, where he accused Russia and China of trying to undermine the peace summit. China has confirmed it will not attend the summit in Switzerland.

Marcos delivered the keynote address at the security conference in Singapore, where he said that rising tensions in the South China Sea among claimant states, including the Philippines and China, is a “world issue.”