Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a rare trip to the Philippines to encourage regional leaders to participate in a Swiss-organised global peace summit on the war in Ukraine. Zelenskyy accuses Russia, with the assistance of China, of attempting to undermine the peace summit.

Zelenskyy arrived unannounced and under heavy security in Manila late on Sunday, following his participation in the Shangri-La defense forum in Singapore over the weekend.

He intended to meet with Philippines President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. on the sidelines of the annual defense gathering but was unsuccessful. Consequently, Zelenskyy decided to fly to Manila personally to invite Marcos to attend the summit in Switzerland, according to two Filipino officials who spoke anonymously to The Associated Press.

Both leaders criticised China during the defense forum in Singapore, which saw the attendance of top defence and government officials from various nations, including Washington and Beijing. The discussions took place amidst ongoing conflicts in Gaza and Ukraine, alongside escalating tensions and competition for influence between the United States and China in the Indo-Pacific region.

During a news conference at the Singapore forum on Sunday, Zelenskyy accused China of aiding Russia in disrupting the Swiss-organised peace summit. He alleged that Russia, with the support of Chinese influence and diplomats, was pressuring other countries and their leaders not to attend the talks.

Zelenskyy stated, "Russia, using Chinese influence in the region, using Chinese diplomats also, does everything to disrupt the peace summit," although he did not provide further details. He expressed disappointment in China's role, describing it as unfortunate for such a powerful country to be manipulated by Russian leader Vladimir Putin.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Zelenskyy's claims.

China claims to maintain a neutral stance on the conflict, which puts it at odds with Ukraine, the US, and most of Europe. Its trade with Russia has expanded, alleviating the economic impact of Western sanctions.

However, intelligence agencies from the US, Ukraine, and other countries suggest evidence of Chinese parts ending up in Russian weaponry, despite China not directly supplying arms to its neighbour.

Switzerland hoped for Chinese attendance at the mid-June peace conference, but Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning indicated otherwise.

During the security forum, Zelenskyy urged top defence officials to join the talks in Switzerland, expressing disappointment at some countries' reluctance to commit. Ukraine aims to present proposals on nuclear security, food security, prisoner release, and the return of abducted Ukrainian children.

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin reaffirmed US support for Ukraine in a meeting with Zelenskyy. Austin stated at the forum that "Putin's war of aggression" presents a grim glimpse of an undesirable future world.

Marcos, addressing the defense forum, highlighted the risks of escalating tensions in the South China Sea, warning that any incident resulting in Filipino casualties could be deemed an act of war. He expressed concerns over China's new law allowing its coast guard to seize foreign ships and detain crews, as well as authorising firing on foreign vessels if necessary.

US Defense Secretary Austin reaffirmed US commitment to the Philippines as a treaty ally, stressing the importance of dialogue with China to prevent unnecessary escalation of conflicts at sea or in the air.

Image source: Hindustan Times