The first resident Ambassador of Ukraine to the Philippines, Yuliia Fediv, made her inaugural visit to Cebu this week as part of efforts to build deeper bilateral and regional partnerships between the two nations, with plans to establish sister-city relationships between Ukrainian and Cebuano cities and expand cooperation in trade, digital innovation, and creative industries.
The visit facilitated by Ukraine’s partner in Cebu, Curtis Vincent Go, marks an important step in Ukraine’s new diplomatic presence in Southeast Asia following the opening of its Manila embassy in December 2024.
Fediv, who assumed her post in March 2025, said her mission in Cebu underscores Ukraine’s strategy to promote ‘decentralized diplomacy’ and foster people-to-people and local government cooperation across the Philippines.
‘Regional diplomacy is a priority for us,’ Fediv said in an interview during her two-day engagement with local government and business leaders.
‘We are here to introduce Ukrainian cities to their potential partners in Cebu and the Visayas, and to plant the seeds for lasting city-to-city, business-to-business, and people-to-people cooperation,’ the lady Ambassador said.
Among the key initiatives discussed were proposed sister-city partnerships between Cebu City and Chernivtsi City, and between Cebu Province and the Chernivtsi Region-areas in Ukraine that share similar strengths in tourism, smart city development, and creative industries.
Talks were also held with Cordova and Lapu-Lapu City officials on potential linkages with other Ukrainian localities.
The ambassador also met with Cebu Governor Pamela Baricuatro and representatives of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCCI) and the European Chamber of Commerce in the Philippines (ECCP) to explore trade and investment opportunities in agriculture, information technology, and digital services.
Ukraine, long regarded as the breadbasket of Europe, is seeking to expand exports of wheat, sunflower oil, meat, and confectionery products to the Philippines.
‘We already export agricultural goods to the Philippines, but the volumes remain small,’ Fediv said. ‘Our businesses are keen to enter new markets in Southeast Asia, particularly in the Visayas.’
She also cited Ukraine’s growing IT and digitalization sector as a promising area for collaboration.
‘Ukraine is home to globally recognized fintech, healthtech, and govtech developers. With Cebu’s strong base of digital talent and its focus on STEM education, we see potential in tech partnerships,’ Fediv added.
Beyond commerce, Fediv emphasized the importance of cultural and creative exchanges, highlighting Ukraine’s emerging ‘Made in Ukraine’ brand that spans fashion, gastronomy, and design.
She noted Cebu’s thriving crafts and culinary scene as fertile ground for cross-cultural cooperation, even hinting at the possibility of Ukrainian restaurants opening in Cebu.
The ambassador also expressed plans to organize a Ukrainian business mission to Cebu in June 2026, coinciding with the province’s annual Cebu Business Month, to facilitate matchmaking between Ukrainian and Filipino enterprises.
‘Diplomacy today must go beyond capitals. Building partnerships from the ground up-from communities and cities-creates a stronger, more resilient foundation,’ she told reporters in an interview.
‘This visit to Cebu is just the beginning of a long-term partnership between our peoples,’ she said.