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| Ukraine's new ambassador to Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, speaks during a meeting with Korean media at the country's embassy in Yongsan District, Seoul, Friday. Korea Times photo by Choi Won-suk |
By Kwon Mee-yoo
New Ukrainian Ambassador to Korea, Dmytro Ponomarenko, welcomed Seoul's participation in international sanctions against Russia and urged the global community to show solidarity with Ukraine.
Ponomarenko arrived in Korea last week, filling the country's ambassadorial post that had been vacant for over a year. He submitted a copy of his credentials to Korea's foreign minister Thursday, officially beginning his post and spoke with local media, Friday, explaining his country's situation.
"When I departed from Ukraine, the situation was on the brink. Our international partners already alarmed that the situation could be worse. But we are a peaceful nation, maybe kind of naive, and we didn't really think that Russians, our neighbors, will strike us with missiles, with tanks and with the power, the military," Ponomarenko told The Korea Times.
The ambassador described the atmosphere in Ukraine regarding the armed conflict with Russia, which has been changing rapidly.
"The population of Ukraine was shocked. Frankly, we never expected our neighbor (to inflict) military attack on Ukrainian territory. But now the population understands what is going on and we are ready to defend our country," he said.
According to the Korean government, there are about 60 Koreans still in Ukraine and the Korean embassy in Kyiv has notified Korean nationals there to be prepared for emergency evacuation. Ponomarenko said the Ukrainian government is making efforts to protect civilians, locals and foreigners alike, which is specified in the Constitution of Ukraine.
"The armed forces of Ukraine and the other competent authorities of Ukraine as well as the local authorities are using everything that is possible to protect Ukrainians and foreigners. At the same time, we made repeated calls to the aggressor to organize green corridors for the evacuation of women, children and people with disabilities, but this discourse remained unanswered. Russia continues to violate the international humanitarian law," he said.
Ukraine urged the international community to show solidarity by imposing immediate and coordinated sanctions against Russia, isolating it on the international stage, and to help Ukraine with whatever is necessary, including financial support, to counter the biggest army on the European continent.
President Moon Jae-in said Korea will join international economic sanctions against Russia, Thursday, and the Ukrainian ambassador showed his appreciation for the move.
"We were encouraged by the recent statements of President Moon Jae-in and Ministry of Foreign Affairs that Ukraine's sovereignty must be respected and that Korea would join efforts for a peaceful resolution of the crisis. We would also be grateful if the Republic of Korea, being a highly-developed and high-tech country, gave us a hand in strengthening our cyber security capabilities," the ambassador said.
"It is critically important for us to initiate additional, strong, coordinated and prolonged sanctions with the goal of responding to already committed Russian transgression, demonstrate readiness not to allow Russia's aggressive steps for further assault of Ukraine and the international security system," he added.
The ambassador asked Korea to coordinate its actions with the United States and the European Union to pressure Russia.
"For the time being, we understand that the sanctions are the only way, the only mechanism and the only possibility to (make) Russia understand that they have to stop," he said.
The Ukrainian ambassador noted that his country is still seeking membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), despite the issue prompting Russia to invade Ukraine.
"It is included in our constitution. Especially now, we understand that we have to be covered by the NATO umbrella," he said.
Despite international solidarity, NATO and the U.S. have made it clear that they will not send troops to Ukraine.
"If NATO will send troops to Ukraine, it means a big war not only in Europe. So we are trying by ourselves. We are strong. Our army needs help and we ask our international partners to be with us, but we don't ask the foreign troops to come to Ukraine right now to prevent a big war in Europe," he said.
The ambassador said the "most appropriate and the best way" would be for Russia to withdraw from Ukrainian territory, taking the proxy government with it, and also pull out of Crimea.
"So Ukrainians will stay in the border which is recognized by the international community, including Crimea, including our eastern territories," Ponomarenko said.
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