Ukraine's First Lady meets with South Korea's Yoon

Ukraine's First Lady Zelenska asks South Korea for non-lethal military aid

This handout photo taken on May 16, 2023 and released by the South Korean presidential office via Yonhap shows South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol (R) shaking hands with Ukraine’s First Lady Olena Zelenska (L) at the presidential office in Seoul. | Photo Credit: AFP

Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on May 16 and asked for non-lethal military assistance for her country, South Korea's presidential office said.

Ms. Zelenska, the wife of President Volodymyr Zelensky, is visiting South Korea to participate in a media conference.

Ms. Zelenska, meeting Mr. Yoon in the role of a special presidential envoy, told him that she hoped to get support for Ukraine in the form of non-lethal military equipment such as mine detectors, Mr. Yoon's spokesperson, Lee Do-woon, told in a briefing.

Mr. Yoon had said South Korea would actively help the Ukrainian people, Mr. Lee said.

In an interview with South Korea's Yonhap news agency published on May 16 Ms. Zelenska raised the possibility of Mr. Yoon visiting Ukraine, saying a visit would be "very supportive".

She also called for "more radical" support for Ukraine to fight against Russian aggression.

South Korea, a major producer of artillery shells, has said it was not providing lethal weapons to Ukraine, citing its relations with Russia.

But Mr. Yoon said in an interview with Reuters last month that his government might not "insist only on humanitarian or financial support" if civilians in Ukraine come under a large-scale attack or due to a "situation the international community cannot condone".