President Lee Jae-myung held his first bilateral summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Tuesday on the sidelines of the NATO Summit in Ankara, Türkiye. The two leaders agreed to pursue a resolution to the issue of North Korean prisoners of war in accordance with international law and humanitarian principles while supporting efforts to bring the war to an early end.
The meeting took place at around noon in Ankara. Although the two leaders briefly met and exchanged greetings at last year’s G7 Summit, this marked their first formal bilateral summit.
Lee said South Korea had announced a $100 million comprehensive assistance package for Ukraine during the NATO Summit, adding, “We will continue providing humanitarian assistance needed by the Ukrainian people while remaining committed to international efforts to support Ukraine’s recovery and reconstruction.”
According to Presidential Senior Secretary for Public Affairs Kang Yu-jung, Zelensky expressed appreciation for South Korea’s support and said, “We hope to continue working closely with the international community, including South Korea, to achieve an early end to the war and secure peace and recovery for Ukraine.”
Zelensky also said he hoped the South Korean government and businesses would continue to participate actively in Ukraine’s reconstruction efforts.
The two leaders also discussed the issue of North Korean prisoners of war captured in Ukraine.
Kang said the leaders agreed that the issue should be resolved in a manner consistent with international law and humanitarian principles while respecting the free will of the individuals involved.
She added that the two presidents exchanged broad views on developments on the Korean Peninsula and in Ukraine and agreed to maintain close communication to further strengthen bilateral relations.