President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 15 hold summit talks at the Mariinsky Palace, the official presidential residence, in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

By Yoon Sojung

Photos = Official Facebook account of Office of the President

President Yoon Suk Yeol and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 15 held summit talks in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv and agreed on the new Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative.

President Yoon and first lady Kim Keon Hee made a surprise visit to the war-torn country after completing their official visit to Poland.

After their summit talks held at the presidential residence of the Mariinsky Palace in Kyiv, Presidents Yoon and Zelenskyy held a joint news conference. 

"We two leaders agreed on jointly carrying out the Ukraine Peace and Solidarity Initiative, which includes Korea's support for Ukraine's national security, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction projects," President Yoon said. 

"I feel a greater responsibility as the Republic of Korea's first head of state to visit Ukraine at this grave time," he added. "If we fight together with strong solidarity under the spirit of those seeking death shall live and those seeking life shall die, we can surely protect our freedom and democracy."

The initiative announced by President Yoon has three parts: Korea's support for national security, humanitarian assistance and reconstruction.

On national security, President Yoon said, "We agreed on the need for the Peace Formula proposed by President Zelenskyy and pledged efforts for a successful hosting of such a summit." 

"In particular, Korea intends to play a facilitator role for major developing countries to join more formal peace summits and free solidarity," he added. "Korea will also continue providing military material support that Ukraine needs."

Turning to humanitarian aid, President Yoon said, "Through close bilateral communication, we agreed to provide humanitarian assistance goods the Ukrainian people need as quickly as possible."

After both leaders held talks in May on the sidelines of the Group of Seven economies summit in Hiroshima, Japan, Seoul quickly sent safety equipment needed by Kyiv such as mine detectors as well as humanitarian assistance items.

"Following our aid worth USD 100 million last year, we will effectively implement additional assistance of USD 150 million this year," President Yoon said. "For the fiscal soundness of the Ukrainian government, we will cooperate this year with the World Bank on extending new financial support."

On reconstruction support, he said, "To support Ukraine's reconstruction, we will expand cooperation between the governments and companies of both sides." 

"We welcome the signing in May of the basic agreement on the bilateral Economic Development Cooperation Fund," he added. "We decided to quickly find and pursue bilateral cooperation projects like infrastructure construction by using Korean financing of USD 100 million allocated earlier."

President Yoon also announced plans to support future generations in Ukraine, pledging to boost cooperation to build both online and offline education systems there and pursue cooperation led by a regional office of the Korea International Cooperation Agency opened in Kyiv last year to rebuild educational institutions destroyed by the war.

"The Republic of Korea will be a partner cultivating freedom, peace and prosperity in Ukraine as well as a trustworthy partner contributing to freedom, peace and prosperity in the world with Ukraine," he added.

President Yoon Suk Yeol (left) and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on July 15 speak at a joint news conference after holding summit talks at the Mariinsky Palace, the official presidential residence, in the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv.

arete@korea.kr