"Significant Potential for Mutual Cooperation with Korea in Post-War Recovery," Says Embassy of Ukraine in Korea

"Ukraine is a country that is preparing not only to overcome wartime circumstances, but also to restore and modernize its devastated cities, and to build long-term partnerships. There is significant potential for mutual cooperation with Korea."

Andriy Veshkin, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Korea, made this statement at the seminar titled "Four Years of the Ukraine War: Global Instability and Implications for the Korean Peninsula" held on March 20, 2026, at the European Union (EU) Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul, appealing for Korea’s active cooperation and interest.

Andriy Vesykyn, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of Ukraine in Korea, is speaking at the seminar titled 'Four Years of the Ukraine War, Global Instability and Implications for the Korean Peninsula' held on the 20th at the Embassy of the European Union in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seongah Shim

He said, "Over the past four years, the war has fundamentally reshaped the global security landscape. It has been confirmed that large-scale interstate warfare is not a thing of the past, and that authoritarian forces are strengthening their solidarity. If aggression is not stopped, it can be repeated anywhere in the world."

He further emphasized, "Democratic countries in Europe and Asia must work together to defend international law and establish a more resilient global order."

Ugo Astuto, Ambassador of the European Union to Korea, stated, "From Korea’s perspective, Russia and North Korea’s military cooperation, which violates United Nations resolutions, is a very serious issue. The future of international law and global security depends on how this war ends. We must fully enforce sanctions against Russia to realize a just peace."

On the 20th, a briefing titled "Four Years of the Ukraine War, Global Instability, and Implications for the Korean Peninsula" was held at the European Union (EU) Embassy in Jung-gu, Seoul. Photo by Seongah Shim

Frederik Spohr, Head of the Korea Office at the Friedrich Naumann Foundation, who participated in the panel discussion that day, said, "The cooperation between North Korea and Russia has been excessively overlooked so far. It is important to raise more awareness about this situation." He added, "In Germany and throughout Europe, there is a growing perception that we can no longer depend solely on the United States, and that American protection has become unpredictable and unreliable."

He said, "In fields such as cybersecurity and defense, Korean defense companies like Hanwha are considering production in Germany, reflecting the growing closeness of Korea-Germany cooperation. The need for collaboration among free democratic countries in the EU and Asia is more urgent than ever."

Natalia Butyrska, Senior Research Fellow at the New Europe Center, commented, "Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has reshaped the security landscape not only in Europe but around the world. Conflicts such as Hamas’s attack on Israel in 2023, the gas supply crisis, and the ongoing Middle East war are not merely regional problems. They are the result of violations of international law and the incompetence of international organizations unable to enforce it."

She continued, "North Korea has become a key supplier of shells, missiles, and other weapons to Russia, and North Korean soldiers are participating in combat operations alongside Russian forces. The Ukraine war and inter-Korean relations are not separate issues—they are very closely connected."

Finally, Senior Research Fellow Butyrska stressed, "Korea has technology and capital, while Ukraine has combat-proven know-how, making the two countries core partners for a win-win relationship." She appealed, "However, due to legal and geopolitical constraints, Korea faces many restrictions in providing lethal weapon support. Japan has already amended its laws and is supporting Ukraine in cooperation with the United States. It is now time for Korea to make a political decision as well."

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