Yoon slams Russia for 'illegal invasion' of Ukraine

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during the 2023 Asian Leadership Conference at the Shilla Hotel in Jung District, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

Ukraine first lady urges Seoul to provide air defense systems

By Nam Hyun-woo

President Yoon Suk Yeol slammed Russia for its “attempts to change the status quo by force and coercive diplomacy,” during a conference attended by Ukraine's first lady Olena Zelenska, Wednesday.

“Instead of joining forces to resolve global challenges, there are groups resorting to attempts to change the status quo by force, coercive diplomacy and nuclear threats,” Yoon said during his speech at the 2023 Asian Leadership Conference in central Seoul.

“Such attempts blatantly violate international law and norms, and the international community must join hands, respond firmly and collectively to uphold international law and norms in the face of these violations.”

Yoon mentioned North Korea's escalating nuclear and missile threats and Russia's aggression against Ukraine as examples of such attempts.

Citing his meeting with Zelenska a day earlier, Yoon said he was informed of the sufferings and human rights violations that Ukrainians are facing due to “an illegal invasion.” He said that countries sharing common values of freedom, human rights and rule of law should “never allow the illegal invasion of Ukraine and the attempt to change the status quo by force to become a successful precedent.”

“The international support and assistance for Ukraine are not only for the benefit of Ukraine and its people but also for the global community,” the president said. “By strengthening the cooperative systems of the international community in responding to global crises and challenges, I am confident that the benefits and advantages will be reciprocated to all global citizens.”

President Yoon Suk Yeol and Ukraine first lady Olena Zelenska, applaud during the 2023 Asian Leadership Conference at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps

During the conference, Zelenska also delivered a speech urging the world to provide military assistance for her country ― especially calling for South Korea's support for air defense systems.

“When there is a criminal in your house, who has come to kill your family, humanitarian aid alone will not save the residents,” Zelenska said. “The first thing to do is to stop the murderer. In the case of Kherson, it could be air defense systems ― technologically advanced and effective like everything your country creates and produces.”

Kherson has seen some of the heaviest combat in the Ukraine War, with its residents experiencing both Russian occupation and Ukrainian recapture. In a referendum held in September of last year, Russia annexed the Kherson Oblast and the Ukrainian military recaptured the city of Kherson in November, but some areas of the oblast are still occupied by Russia.

Her comments are in line with her remarks during the meeting with Yoon a day earlier. During the meeting, she asked South Korea to provide “non-lethal military aid” to Ukraine, according to Seoul's presidential office.

Zelenska wrote on her Telegram channel late Tuesday that she discussed “the necessity of air defense systems” with Yoon. An official at the presidential office confirmed that Zelenska asked for air defense radar systems.

Currently, South Korea provides only humanitarian and economic assistance to Ukraine, following the principle of not including lethal weapons in aid packages to foreign countries.

However, Yoon signaled a major shift from this principle during a media interview last month, stating that it may be difficult for Seoul to stick solely to humanitarian or financial aid if there is “a situation the international community cannot condone, such as a large-scale attack on civilians, massacres or serious violations of the laws of war.”

Zelenska said she is grateful to the Korean people for sharing Ukraine's pain and to President Yoon “for his recent words that humanitarian aid alone may not be enough when civilians are being killed.”

“We also need to stop the murderer, Russia. That's why we say we need victory, not an abstract ceasefire. Moreover, this is not only our grief and the threat not only to us. This is a violation of rules of coexistence.”