European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President Kaja Kallas delivered key remarks today at the Kyiv-Manila Strategic Dialogues, emphasizing that cross-regional cooperation and strict adherence to the UN Charter are essential to safeguarding global stability.
Co-hosted by the Embassy of Ukraine in the Philippines and Ateneo de Manila University, in collaboration with the Delegation of the European Union to the Philippines, the forum brought together diplomats, scholars, policy experts, and students to examine the interconnected security challenges facing Europe and the Indo-Pacific.
During her address, High Representative Kallas reaffirmed the European Union’s unwavering, multi-faceted support for Ukraine as it defends its territorial integrity and national sovereignty against Russian aggression. She stressed that the war in Ukraine is not merely a localized European crisis, but a existential test of the global rules-based order that protects all nations, regardless of size or geography.
“The defense of international law, national sovereignty, and the core principles of the UN Charter is a universal duty that transcends regions,” Kallas stated. “What happens in Europe directly impacts the security and stability of the Indo-Pacific. By standing firmly alongside Ukraine, we are defending a fundamental principle: that borders cannot be redrawn by force, and that might does not make right.”
The strategic dialogue highlighted the expanding partnership between the European Union, Ukraine, and Southeast Asian nations in addressing complex security issues. Participants explored practical approaches to building institutional resilience, countering disinformation and hybrid threats, and ensuring the protection of maritime rules and international maritime law (UNCLOS).
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Upholding Sovereign Equality: Reaffirming that international norms—specifically peaceful dispute resolution, respect for territorial integrity, and non-aggression—are vital to both European and ASEAN security frameworks.
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Cross-Regional Resilience: Identifying shared strategies to strengthen supply chain security, energy transition safety, and cyber defense against state and non-state coercion.
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Sustained Global Solidarity: Reinforcing the necessity of international alignment behind Ukraine’s Peace Formula and long-term reconstruction efforts.
Representatives from Ateneo de Manila University and the Embassy of Ukraine expressed appreciation for the EU’s proactive engagement in the Philippines, noting that cross-hemispheric dialogues build the institutional trust required to navigate an increasingly volatile geopolitical landscape.
The European Union reiterated its commitment to deepening diplomatic and security cooperation with the Philippines, ASEAN partners, and global allies to ensure a peaceful, prosperous, and law-governed international community.
