Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was quoted as saying in an interview with a South Korean newspaper that his country "desperately hopes" that South Korea will provide defensive military equipment such as anti-aircraft systems to repel Russian attacks.
Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for South Korea's pledge to send demining vehicles and humanitarian aid totaling about $230 million but said Ukraine wanted anti-aircraft and early warning systems, according to the Chosun Ilbo daily on Tuesday.
"I know there are many limitations regarding weapons support, but those principles should not be applied to defense systems and equipment for protecting our assets," Zelenskyy told the newspaper through an interpreter.
"An anti-aircraft system is not a weapon but purely defensive equipment. We have to have a sky shield to rebuild Ukraine, and I desperately hope that South Korea will support us in this area."
The report said South Korea's early warning system would help defend the country from Russian airstrikes.
South Korea, a US ally and major arms exporter, has so far ruled out sending lethal aid to Ukraine, citing trade ties with Russia and Moscow's influence over North Korea, despite mounting pressure from Washington and Europe to supply it with weapons.
President Yoon Suk-yeol, in an interview with Reuters in April, hinted at the possibility of change, saying it might be difficult for Seoul to continue providing humanitarian and financial aid only if Ukraine faced a large-scale civilian attack or "a situation that the international community cannot condone."
Yoon and Zelenskyy met for the first time this month on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Japan, after which Seoul pledged to supply mine-clearing equipment and additional humanitarian aid.
The Ukrainian president also requested South Korean military support in a video address to South Korean lawmakers in April, including armored vehicles, as well as anti-aircraft, anti-tank, and anti-ship weapons.
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