The Philippines on Monday shared its "explicit condemnation" of the invasion of Ukraine and called for the protection of civilians as Russia continues its offensives in the former Soviet republic.
Manila is also voting "yes" to the United Nations General Assembly resolution calling on Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine's capital Kyiv, it said in a statement for the emergency special session in New York.
"We appeal for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructures. We strongly urge the cessation of hostilities; but while an offense can be stopped at will the defense cannot rest until the offense stops," the Philippines said in its statement.
The rare UNGA emergency special session is just the 11th the Assembly has held in its history which saw nation after nation calling for peace.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin launched the full-scale invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24, forcing more than half a million people of the country to flee.
"We especially condemn the use of separatism and secession as a weapon of diplomacy for inviting and inflicting terrible cruelties and indiscriminate killings far in excess of that of any other kind of conflict," the Philippines said.
The Philippines also called for "massive assistance" for the "growing humanitarian crisis" and urged involved parties to resort to the 1982 Manila Declaration on the Peaceful Settlement of International Disputes.
According to Ukraine, more than 350 civilians, including 14 children, have been killed during the invasion.
--with a report from Agence France Presse
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