Ukraine's first lady visits Seoul, asks for non-lethal military aid

First Lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska met South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Tuesday to request non-lethal military aid, using a visit to Seoul to highlight the need for "something more radical". simple humanitarian support to end Russia's invasion of her country.

Ms. Zelenska thanked Yoon for the humanitarian and economic aid South Korea has already provided and requested non-lethal military equipment, including detection and mine-clearing tools, a spokesman for the country told reporters. office of Mr. Yoon, Lee Do-woon. p>

Mrs. Zelenska said on Telegram that she and other Ukrainian officials, including First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko, also discussed Ukraine's need for stronger air defense systems.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">Mr. Yoon promised South Korea would coordinate with NATO and other countries to "actively support the Ukrainian people", his spokesman said, but did not give specific details on what that would entail.

Seoul has so far resisted calls to send its artillery shells to Ukrainian forces, which need more ammunition ahead of a long-awaited counter-offensive aimed at to regain the territory occupied by Russia. Yoon first indicated only last month that Seoul might be willing to consider sending military aid to Kyiv, telling Reuters it would be difficult to insist exclusively on humanitarian or financial support in the event of an emergency. large-scale attack on civilians. .

The South Korean president's change on the issue was "a wise move", Ms Zelenska told Yonhap News Agency in an interview published on Tuesday.

< p class="css-at9mc1 evys1bk0">"Indeed, when there is a criminal in the house, the owners clearly need not only humanitarian aid, food and medicine, but something more radical to drive out the criminal," she said, adding that peace was only possible through a Ukrainian victory, not through negotiations with a "murderer who has no regrets." /p>

Ms. Zelenska has become a prominent envoy for her husband's administration since becoming wartime first lady, advocating for the recovery of mental health and the well-being of children while traveling aboard to advocate in favor of the support of Kiev's allies. Earlier this month, she met British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in London before attending the coronation of King Charles III.