U.S. asks to buy ammo as Zelensky hopes for Korean aid

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during his press conference on the first anniversary of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in Kyiv on Friday. [AP/YONHAP]

The United States has asked to purchase more artillery ammunition from Korea, local sources said, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed hope that Korea will send military support against the ongoing Russian invasion of his country.

According to anonymous government sources cited by the JoongAng Ilbo, Seoul received a new request for artillery ammunition from Washington last week and is currently deliberating the matter.

The United States previously bought 100,000 rounds of 155-millimeter howitzer artillery shells from Korea to send to Ukraine in November.

But Seoul’s Defense Ministry said at the time that the ammunition purchase was conducted “under the premise that the United States is the end user,” and the sale was intended to replenish depleted U.S. stockpiles.

Regarding the latest U.S. request, a Korean defense official who spoke to the JoongAng Ilbo last week on condition of anonymity only said, “There is no change to our stance of not supplying lethal military aid to Ukraine.”

President Zelensky said he hopes for Korean military support in response to a question from a JTBC reporter at a Friday press conference in Kyiv after his speech marking the first anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

“We view weapons supplies to us positively,” Zelensky said, according to JTBC, adding that he hopes Korea “will find an opportunity to help Ukraine.”

The Ukrainian president said “details are being discussed” with other countries about Korea on the subject of military aid, without giving additional information.

Zelensky also said that his government is working to organize a trip by a Korean government delegation to Ukraine, and that he would try to send Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal to Korea if he himself were unable to pay a visit.

The Ukrainian president addressed Korea’s National Assembly via video livestream in April last year and called for Seoul to send anti-aircraft weapons during his speech.

Around 60 out of 299 sitting lawmakers were present at the National Assembly during Zelensky’s address.

North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg called on Korea to “step up” its military support to Ukraine during his visit to the country last month, citing the example of several NATO member states that have revised their policies against exporting weapons to countries at war in to aid Ukraine.

BY LIM SUN-YOUNG, MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]