South Korea moves closer to Russia amid deteriorating relations with Ukraine – FT
South Korea is stepping up its diplomatic and economic ties with Russia, while its relations with Ukraine are deteriorating. European diplomats fear that Seoul is laying the groundwork for resuming a full-fledged economic partnership with Moscow once the war ends.
Як інформує Цензор.НЕТ, про це пише The Financial Times.
According to data cited in the publication, during July and August, South Korea supplied more than 176,000 metric tons of fuel, primarily diesel, to Russia. The report states that the shipments were carried out, in particular, using tankers subject to sanctions.
Vladislav Vlasyuk, the Ukrainian President’s Representative on Sanctions Policy, stated that these resources helped Russia make up for the fuel shortage following Ukrainian attacks on Russian oil refineries.
At the same time, the South Korean government denies making direct fuel shipments to Russia.
Contacts with Moscow are intensifying, while relations with Kyiv are deteriorating
As the publication notes, during Lee Jae-myung’s presidency, South Korea stepped up its diplomatic and economic dialogue with Russia, despite Russia’s war against Ukraine and Moscow’s military cooperation with North Korea.
Signs of a rapprochement include private negotiations between the parties and the appointment of Son Yeon-gil as the president’s advisor on peace diplomacy. He was awarded the Russian Order of Friendship.
At the same time, according to the article, relations between Seoul and Kyiv deteriorated following a dispute over the disclosure of information regarding two North Korean soldiers who were taken prisoner in Ukraine. The article states that South Korea recalled its ambassador and reduced the size of its diplomatic mission in Kyiv.
European diplomats fear a return to cooperation with Russia
Diplomats from European Union countries are expressing concern that Seoul is seeking to lay the groundwork in advance for the resumption of a large-scale economic partnership with Russia after the war.
In their view, such a policy may indicate South Korea's desire to prioritize its own economic interests over support for Ukraine.
At the same time, the prospects for a full restoration of economic ties between Seoul and Moscow remain uncertain.
What led up to this?
- During his address to the UN General Assembly, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that Ukraine had recently handed over to South Korea two North Korean prisoners of war who had been captured on the battlefield.
- In December 2025, two North Korean soldiers who had been captured by Ukrainian defenders during combat operations wrote a letter requesting permission to travel to South Korea. On January 11, 2025, it was reported that Ukrainian troops had captured two North Korean soldiers in the Kursk Oblast of the Russian Federation.
- Subsequently, South Korea accused Zelenskyy of disclosing a secret operation to transfer North Korean prisoners of war.
- The Office of the President later denied that Ukraine had agreed with South Korea not to disclose information about the transfer of North Korean prisoners of war.
- Despite this, Seoul stated that it is demanding an apology.
- On August 28, the South Korean Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned Andriy Veshkin, Ukraine’s acting ambassador to Seoul.
- South Korea threatened Ukraine with "additional measures" over North Korean citizens held captive.
- In October, South Korea received an apology from Ukraine for disclosing information about the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to Seoul.
- On October 8, it was reported that South Korea is recalling its ambassador to Ukraine.
