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Ukraine’s first lady, Olena Zelenska, met with South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday to ask for non-lethal military aid, using her visit to Seoul to emphasize the need for “something more radical” than just humanitarian support to stop Russia’s invasion of her country. .
Zelenska thanked Mr. Yoon for the humanitarian and economic aid South Korea has provided and asked for non-lethal military equipment, including tools for mine detection and removal, a spokesman for Mr. Yoon’s office, Lee Do-woon, told reporters.
Zelenska said on Telegram that she and other Ukrainian officials, including the first deputy prime minister, Yulia Svyrydenko, also discussed Ukraine’s need for a stronger air defense system.
Mr. Yoon vowed that South Korea would coordinate with NATO and other countries to “actively support the people of Ukraine,” the spokesman said, but did not give specific details on what he would do.
Seoul has so far resisted calls to send artillery shells to Ukrainian forces, which need more ammunition ahead of a long-awaited counterattack to retake Russian-held territory. Mr. Yoon indicated for the first time just last month that Seoul might be willing to consider sending military aid to Kyiv, telling Reuters that it would be difficult to justify humanitarian or financial support in the event of a major attack on civilians. .
The South Korean president’s move on the matter was a “wise decision,” Ms. Zelenska told Yonhap News Agency in an interview published Tuesday.
“Indeed, when there are criminals in the house, the owners clearly need not only humanitarian aid, food and medicine, but something more radical to expel the criminals,” he said, adding that peace can only be achieved through the victory of Ukraine. not through negotiations with “remorseless killers.”
Mrs. Zelenska has been an important emissary for her husband’s administration since becoming the first lady of the war, championing the recovery of mental health and the well-being of children while traveling on a boat to advocate support from Kyiv’s allies. Earlier this month, he met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London before attending the coronation of King Charles III.
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