Russia is ready to continue its good ties with the Philippines, as well as supplying modern firearms and other equipment the country would need.

Russia is confident that its good ties with the Philippines will remain.

In a press conference on Wednesday with Russian Ambassador to the Philippines Igor Khovaev held on the Russian anti-submarine vessel Admiral Tributs at the Manila South Harbor.

The Russian Ambassador noted that he understands the Philippines’ objective to expand its relations with its foreign partners and that Russia is ready to give aid to the Philippines.

“We are talking about diversification. It’s not a choice between these partners and those ones. Diversification means preserving and keeping old traditional partners and getting new ones. So, Russia is ready to become a new reliable partner and close friend of the Philippines,” Khovaev said.

Russia is also ready to supply modern weapons for the country.

China and Russia had previously offered the Philippines weapons after reports of the United States’ plans to stop selling assault rifles to the country due to worries of rise in the death toll brought about by the Duterte administration’s war on drugs.

“We are ready to supply small arms and light weapons, some airplanes, helicopters, submarines and many, many other weapons. Sophisticated weapons. More than weapons. Not the second-hand ones.”

Also, Ambassador Khovaev assured that they never used the military cooperation as political leverage.

“The military cooperation with Russia has no political conditionality. That’s the best possible assurance. And in the history of military ties of Russia with all our partners around the world, there has never been, never I’m saying again never been, any kind of interference; any kind of link between military cooperation and political pressure. That’s not possible at all.” — Mirasol Abogadil | UNTV News & Rescue

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