Kazan: The Philippines remains cautious and will assess its engagements with foreign partners on a case-to-case basis to avoid unintentional support for conflicts, President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr. said Thursday. In a media interview in Kazan, Russia, Marcos addressed concerns about potential backlash over partnerships with Russia amid sanctions related to the Ukraine conflict. He emphasized the Philippines' strong commitment to peace and non-involvement in conflict financing.

According to Philippines News Agency, Marcos stated, 'As I've always said, the Philippines is one of the, if not the greatest sponsor, supporter for peace, and not only in our region but everywhere else. And certainly, that is not something that we would like to be accused of and would not like to be part of.' He further remarked that the country would not want to be part of any system that furthers conflict anywhere in the world, highlighting the nuanced decisions that may arise in the future.

Citing the relatively minor scale of Philippine-Russian trade in the broader economic landscape, Marcos said the country is unlikely to contribute significantly to funding any war effort. He noted that the trade between the Philippines and Russia comprises such a small part of their general revenue generation that it clearly cannot be said that it is funding conflict anywhere.

Marcos concluded by emphasizing the need for careful assessment to ensure that the Philippines does not inadvertently become part of a system that encourages war in any way.