President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands ahead of their summit at a hotel in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday (local time). [Yonhap]
President Lee Jae Myung and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands ahead of their summit at a hotel in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday (local time). [Yonhap]

President Lee Jae Myung held his first summit with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Ankara, Turkey, on Wednesday (local time), on the sidelines of the NATO summit, pledging that South Korea would make significant efforts toward Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction.

Lee briefed Zelensky on South Korea's comprehensive $100 million support package for Ukraine's peace and reconstruction — a campaign pledge he had announced Tuesday in a meeting with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.

Lee said the South Korean government would continue providing humanitarian assistance to the Ukrainian people and sustain its participation in the international community's efforts for Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction.

Zelensky expressed gratitude for South Korea's support and said he hoped to continue close cooperation with the international community, including South Korea, toward a swift end to the war and Ukraine's peace and recovery.

He also said he looked forward to the continued engagement of the South Korean government and businesses in Ukraine's reconstruction.

The two leaders agreed that the issue of North Korean prisoners of war held in Ukraine should be resolved in a manner consistent with international law and humanitarian principles, with full respect for the free will of those involved.

They also exchanged broad views on the situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Ukraine, and agreed to maintain close communication to advance the bilateral relationship.


sang@heraldcorp.com