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Duterte says Philippines maintaining neutrality on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News 

<p>MANILA<strong> (UPDATED)</strong>— President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said the country is maintaining its neutrality on Russia&#x27;s invasion of Ukraine, despite mounting international sanctions on Moscow.</p><p>In his speech at Palo town in Leyte, Duterte described Russian President Vladimir Putin as his friend, but lamented that civilians were killed during Russia&#x27;s invasion. </p><p>Duterte earlier called Putin &quot;<a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/04/22/duterte-calls-putin-suicidal-in-russias-invasion-of-ukraine">suicidal</a>&quot; for invading Ukraine, in what is considered as the biggest attack in the continent since World War II. </p><p>&quot;Ibang lugar sa mundo nagpatayan na Europe, Russia nagwala na doon, so we better, ang ating neutrality, we just maintain it, umiwas tayo para hindi tayo madamay, hindi ako mag-commit,&quot; Duterte said in Bisaya. </p><p>&quot;Kung ako, kung pupunta dito ang mga Amerikano, kung sasabihin ko ipapadala ang mga sundalo, hindi natin iyan away, mag-spillover, kung mapunta ang giyera dito mahirap yan, ayaw ko. Ako pa ang Presidente, hindi ako papayag kahit isang sundalo, hindi natin away yan, wag tayong makialam,&quot; he added. </p><p>Duterte earlier said the country had to take sides, recalling a proverb that the hottest place in hell is reserved for people who chose to be neutral in times of crisis. </p><p>The Philippine ambassador in Washington earlier said the President was open to offering the country&#x27;s facilities to the United States, in case the war spills over to Asia. </p><ul>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/10/22/ph-ready-to-offer-facilities-to-us-if-russia-ukraine-war-spills-to-asia">PH ready to offer facilities to US if Russia-Ukraine war &#x27;spills&#x27; to Asia, says envoy</a></li></ul><p>Earlier this month, the country explicitly condemned Russia&#x27;s war with Ukraine, with Malacañang saying that &quot;war benefits no one.&quot;</p><ul>	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/02/22/war-benefits-no-one-ph-says-of-conflict-in-ukraine">&#x27;War benefits no one&#x27;: PH calls for end to &#x27;unnecessary&#x27; loss of lives in Ukraine</a></li></ul><p>Duterte has approved economic measures to cushion the blow on the Philippines of Russia&#x27;s invasion of Ukraine, which includes boosting the domestic economy and releasing some <a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/business/03/10/22/dbm-releases-p3-billion-for-fuel-subsidy-discount">P3 billion</a> in fuel subsidy and discount vouchers for transport drivers.</p><p>Ukraine accused Russia earlier in the day of bombing a theater that was sheltering more than 1,000 civilians in the city of Mariupol, after US President Joe Biden branded Putin a &quot;war criminal&quot;.</p><p>The United Nations said the Russia&#x27;s invasion of Ukraine has killed at least 636 civilians, including 46 children, Reuters <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/un-says-least-636-civilians-killed-ukraine-so-far-2022-03-14/">reported</a>.</p><p>Almost 2 million people have fled to Poland from Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion on Feb. 24. </p><div><strong>— With reports from Agence France-Presse and Reuters</strong></div><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=1967244" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more in <a href="//www.iwantv.com.ph/">iWantv</a> or <a href="//tfc.tv/">TFC.tv</a></div>

Duterte described Russian President Vladimir Putin as his friend, but lamented that civilians were killed during Russia's invasion. 

Duterte says Philippines maintaining neutrality on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

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Duterte says Philippines maintaining neutrality on Russia's invasion of Ukraine

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Mar 17, 2022 06:22 PM PHT

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Updated Mar 17, 2022 11:10 PM PHT

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President Duterte

Rodrigo Duterte

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