Zelenskiy asks South Korea for defense equipment. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told a South Korean newspaper that Ukraine “desperately hopes” South Korea will send anti-aircraft systems to defend against Russian assaults.
On Tuesday, the Chosun Ilbo reported that Zelenskiy thanked South Korea for sending demining vehicles and $230 million in humanitarian relief but said Ukraine demanded anti-aircraft and early warning systems.
“I know there are many limitations regarding weapons support, but those principles should not be applied to defence systems and equipment for protecting our assets,” Zelenskiy told the newspaper through an interpreter.
“An anti-aircraft system is solely defensive. I desperately hope South Korea would help us restore Ukraine with a sky umbrella.”
The report said he believed South Korea’s early warning system would protect against Russian air assaults.
South Korea, a U.S. ally and major arms exporter, had resisted calls from Washington and Europe to provide lethal help to Ukraine, citing commercial connections with Russia and Moscow’s influence over North Korea.
In an April interview with Reuters, President Yoon Suk Yeol suggested a change if Ukraine faced a large-scale civilian attack or a “situation the international community cannot condone.”
Yoon and Zelenskiy met for the first time this month at a Group of Seven summits in Japan when Seoul pledged to provide demining equipment and humanitarian relief.
In April, Zelenskiy requested armored vehicles, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, and anti-ship weapons from South Korea.
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