A “meaningful” visit. This is how Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked his South Korean counterpart Yoon Suk Yeol on Saturday for his first visit to Ukraine.
“Today, during this first visit of the President of the Republic of Korea to Ukraine in the history of our relations, we talked about everything that is important for people to lead a normal and safe life,” said Zelensky, adding, “Thank you for these meaningful interviews. Thank you for your strong support. »
South Korea, the world’s ninth-largest arms exporter, has sent humanitarian aid to Ukraine and has also sold tanks and howitzers to Poland, a key Kyiv ally against Russian forces.
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol pledged on Saturday to “increase the scale” of humanitarian aid and non-lethal military assistance to Ukraine, after a summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv.
Seoul “will increase the scale of support given last year, when we provided materials such as helmets and bulletproof vests,” Yoon Suk Yeol said. His country’s humanitarian aid to Ukraine will increase to $150 million in 2023 from $100 million in 2022, he added.
However, the Asian country has a long-standing policy of not supplying arms to regions in conflict, despite repeated pleas from the United States, European allies and Ukraine itself for more aid. important.
The Ukrainian president also praised the transfer of demining vehicles and equipment which “helps save lives”. The two heads of state also discussed cooperation in energy, food and the economy as well as efforts to bring Russia to justice and rebuild Ukraine.
