Zelensky appeals to Seoul for arms to help Ukraine survive war
President addresses South Korean legislators via video and asks for armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons
11 April 2022 - 18:20
byJosh Smith and Soo-hyang Choi
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Seoul — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday asked Seoul for any military aid it could provide as he said Russia would only make peace if it was forced to.
Speaking in a video address to South Korean legislators, Zelensky said his country needed more help, including weapons, to survive the war.
“You have something that can be indispensable for us ... armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons,” he said.
Zelensky said South Korea had many weapons that could not only help save the lives of ordinary Ukrainians but help prevent Russia from attacking other nations.
“There is and cannot be a hope that Russia will stop on its own,” Zelensky said. “Russia can only be forced to do this, can only be forced to seek peace.”
He said tens of thousands of people had probably been killed in Russia’s assault on the southeastern city of Mariupol alone. Reuters could not verify the accuracy of his estimate.
Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation”, invaded Ukraine in late February.
Seoul’s defence ministry on Monday said it had rejected a request by Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov for anti-aircraft weapons.
In a phone call on Friday, South Korean defence minister Suh Wook told his Ukrainian counterpart that any support of lethal weapons would be limited in light of South Korea’s security situation and its potential impact on military readiness, ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan said at a briefing.
Zelensky did not mention that rejection, but said “the usual rules for supplying weapons must be reviewed and acted upon quickly”.
Kim Jong-dae, a defence expert who oversees military reform at the liberal minor opposition Justice Party, on Saturday said the US embassy in Seoul had also asked the South Koreans to send surface-to-air weapons, namely the KM-SAM missile system with a range of up to 40km and an altitude of 15km, citing unnamed sources.
South Korea has provided humanitarian assistance worth $10m to Ukraine and pledged last week to send another $30m, while shipping about 20 types of non-lethal items including bulletproof helmets and medical kits, totalling 1-billion won ($811,000).
The US embassy did not immediately have a comment on Kim’s remarks.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Zelensky appeals to Seoul for arms to help Ukraine survive war
President addresses South Korean legislators via video and asks for armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons
Seoul — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Monday asked Seoul for any military aid it could provide as he said Russia would only make peace if it was forced to.
Speaking in a video address to South Korean legislators, Zelensky said his country needed more help, including weapons, to survive the war.
“You have something that can be indispensable for us ... armoured vehicles, anti-aircraft, anti-tank, anti-ship weapons,” he said.
Zelensky said South Korea had many weapons that could not only help save the lives of ordinary Ukrainians but help prevent Russia from attacking other nations.
“There is and cannot be a hope that Russia will stop on its own,” Zelensky said. “Russia can only be forced to do this, can only be forced to seek peace.”
He said tens of thousands of people had probably been killed in Russia’s assault on the southeastern city of Mariupol alone. Reuters could not verify the accuracy of his estimate.
Russia, which calls its actions in Ukraine a “special operation”, invaded Ukraine in late February.
Seoul’s defence ministry on Monday said it had rejected a request by Ukrainian defence minister Oleksii Reznikov for anti-aircraft weapons.
In a phone call on Friday, South Korean defence minister Suh Wook told his Ukrainian counterpart that any support of lethal weapons would be limited in light of South Korea’s security situation and its potential impact on military readiness, ministry spokesperson Boo Seung-chan said at a briefing.
Zelensky did not mention that rejection, but said “the usual rules for supplying weapons must be reviewed and acted upon quickly”.
Kim Jong-dae, a defence expert who oversees military reform at the liberal minor opposition Justice Party, on Saturday said the US embassy in Seoul had also asked the South Koreans to send surface-to-air weapons, namely the KM-SAM missile system with a range of up to 40km and an altitude of 15km, citing unnamed sources.
South Korea has provided humanitarian assistance worth $10m to Ukraine and pledged last week to send another $30m, while shipping about 20 types of non-lethal items including bulletproof helmets and medical kits, totalling 1-billion won ($811,000).
The US embassy did not immediately have a comment on Kim’s remarks.
Reuters
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