Yoon on Putin's Warning: "No Supply of Lethal Weapons... Striving for Peace"

Yoon Emphasizes Efforts for Peace While Mentioning 'Sovereignty Issue'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 28th that "there has been no fact of supplying lethal weapons or such to Ukraine," in response to Russian President Vladimir Putin's warning that if South Korea provides weapons to Ukraine, Korea-Russia relations would collapse.

President Yoon made this remark when a reporter he met on his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office in the morning asked him about President Putin's comment pointing to South Korea, saying that if South Korea supports Ukraine with weapons, Korea-Russia relations would break down.

President Yoon then emphasized, "However, this is ultimately a matter of our sovereignty." While South Korea aims for peace, since the provision of weapons is a sovereign issue of a country, it seems that President Putin's warning was a veiled caution that he should not interfere.

President Yoon continued, "We have been providing humanitarian and peaceful support to Ukraine in solidarity with the international community," and stressed, "I hope it is understood that we are trying to maintain peaceful and good relations with all countries in the world, including Russia."

Meanwhile, on the 27th (local time), at the 'Valdai Club' meeting of international Russian experts held in Moscow, President Putin said, "I know that South Korea has decided to provide weapons and ammunition to Ukraine," and warned, "If South Korea supplies weapons to Ukraine, Korea-Russia relations will collapse."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.