--- title: "South Korea Closes Ranks with Russia Amid Worsening Ties with Ukraine" description: "South Korea is restoring economic and diplomatic ties with Russia, including fuel supplies, amid a sharp crisis and worsening relations with Ukraine." date: 2026-10-29T07:27:36.239Z lang: en url: https://xab.info/en/posts/south-korea-closer-to-russia-worsening-ukraine-ties tags: [south-korea, russia, ukraine, sanctions, diplomacy] author: "Alexander Buran" publisher: "XAB.info" --- # South Korea Closes Ranks with Russia Amid Worsening Ties with Ukraine ![South Korean President Lee Jae-myung speaking at a press conference with national flags in the background](https://xab.info/media/2026/10/29/yuzhnaya-koreya-sblizhaetsya-s-rossiey-na-fone-uhudsheniya-otnosheniy-s-ukrainoy/yuzhnaya-koreya-sblizhaetsya-s-rossiey-na-fone-uhudsheniya-otnosheniy-s-ukrainoy-1.webp) ## Key Points - Seoul is restoring economic and diplomatic contacts with Moscow under President Lee Jae-myung. - In July-August, South Korea shipped over 176,000 tons of fuel to Russia, partly via sanctioned tankers. - Relations with Ukraine worsened due to a dispute over disclosing information on two North Korean POWs. - Seoul recalled its ambassador and reduced its diplomatic presence, while South Korea's Foreign Ministry does not rule out severing ties. South Korea is gradually restoring diplomatic and economic contacts with Russia against the backdrop of deteriorating relations with Ukraine, raising concerns among European allies. According to the Financial Times, under the presidency of Lee Jae-myung, Seoul has stepped up dialogue with Moscow despite the ongoing military conflict and Russia's cooperation with North Korea. ### Fuel Supplies and Economic Contacts In July and August alone, South Korea sent more than 176,000 tons of fuel, predominantly diesel, to Russia. As the publication notes, some of these shipments were carried out using tankers subject to international sanctions. Vladyslav Vlasiuk, the Ukrainian presidential commissioner for sanctions policy, stated that these supplies helped Russia mitigate fuel shortages caused by a series of Ukrainian strikes on oil refineries. At the same time, official Seoul rejects accusations of direct fuel exports to Russia. Concurrently, the parties are holding closed consultations, and Song Young-gil—a politician previously awarded the Russian Order of Friendship—has been appointed as the South Korean president's advisor on peace diplomacy. ### Diplomatic Crisis in Relations with Kyiv South Korea's relations with Ukraine sharply deteriorated following a dispute over the disclosure of information regarding two North Korean prisoners of war. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced this on September 23 during his speech at the UN General Assembly, after which Seoul recalled its ambassador from Ukraine and reduced its diplomatic presence. The South Korean administration stated that the public disclosure violated confidentiality agreements and endangered the security of the soldiers and their families remaining in North Korea. In turn, the Office of the President of Ukraine denied that any agreement on keeping the matter strictly secret existed. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Hyun did not rule out a possible rupture of diplomatic ties with Kyiv. ### Reaction of European Allies and Prospects European diplomats are expressing serious alarm over these developments, fearing that Seoul is placing its own economic priorities above solidarity with Ukraine and preparing to fully restore ties with Moscow once hostilities end. The situation demonstrates a major shift in South Korea's diplomatic course as it balances between Western partners' sanction demands and pragmatic interests in energy markets. ## Accounts differ ### Direct fuel exports to Russia - **Ukrainian side and Financial Times:** South Korea sent over 176,000 tons of fuel to Russia in July-August, including shipments via sanctioned tankers. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivdenna-koreya-zblizhuetsya-rf-tli-pogirshennya-1793258153.html)) - **South Korean authorities:** Deny accusations of supplies, stating there is no direct export of fuel to Russia. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivdenna-koreya-zblizhuetsya-rf-tli-pogirshennya-1793258153.html)) *Where they agree:* There are substantial fuel shipments from South Korea toward Russia that are being discussed internationally. ### Confidentiality agreement regarding North Korean POW data - **South Korean President Lee Jae-myung:** The disclosure violated a confidentiality agreement and threatened the safety of the soldiers' families. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivdenna-koreya-zblizhuetsya-rf-tli-pogirshennya-1793258153.html)) - **Office of the President of Ukraine:** Objects that there was any agreement to keep the matter confidential. ([rbc.ua](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivdenna-koreya-zblizhuetsya-rf-tli-pogirshennya-1793258153.html)) *Where they agree:* Information regarding two North Korean prisoners of war was disclosed at the UN General Assembly, following which Seoul recalled its ambassador. ## Fact-Check & Sources - [Южная Корея сближается с РФ на фоне ухудшения отношений с Украиной, - FT](https://www.rbc.ua/ukr/news/pivdenna-koreya-zblizhuetsya-rf-tli-pogirshennya-1793258153.html) - The primary source confirms all key points of the article regarding fuel supplies, worsening ties with Ukraine, and European reactions. - [Южная Корея сближается с Россией на фоне конфликта с Украиной](https://monavista.ru/2/4884689-yuzhnaya-koreya-sblizhaetsya-s-rossiey-na-fone-konflikta-s-ukrainoy.html) - Подтверждено по источнику monavista.ru - [Южная Корея сближается с Россией на фоне ухудшения отношений с Украиной, - FT](https://censor.net/ru/news/4030945/yujnaya-koreya-aktiviziruet-kontakty-s-rf-i-otdalyaetsya-ot-ukrainy) - Подтверждено по источнику censor.net - [Южная Корея пошла на сближение с Россией после скандала с Украиной](https://www.gazeta.ru/politics/news/2026/10/29/29628199.shtml) - Подтверждено по источнику gazeta.ru ## FAQ ### Why did relations between Ukraine and South Korea worsen? Relations strained over a dispute regarding the disclosure of information about two North Korean prisoners of war handed over to Kyiv. ### How much fuel did South Korea send to Russia? Over July and August, more than 176,000 tons of fuel, primarily diesel, were sent to Russia. ### How did Seoul comment on the fuel supply accusations? Seoul denies the accusations, stating there is no direct export of fuel to Russia.