(LEAD) PPP chief discusses support, post-war reconstruction with Ukrainian president

All News 22:03 June 08, 2022

(ATTN: ADDS Zelenskyy's remarks in paras 7-8)

SEOUL, June 8 (Yonhap) -- Ruling People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok has met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and discussed various support measures and development cooperation between the two countries, party officials said Wednesday.

The meeting took place on Monday, the third day of Lee's visit to Ukraine as head of a PPP delegation of about 10 people, including lawmakers, the party said in a press release without providing details, such as the meeting place, due to security reasons.

During the meeting, officials from Ukraine's presidential office were said to have asked for military aid and made proposals on South Korea's participation in post-war reconstruction projects of war-torn cities.

Lee told the Ukraine officials he will deliver what they said to President Yoon Suk-yeol.

Lee also delivered a message of support, saying South Korea will continue to help Ukraine find peace.

"We also went through a difficult war in the past and I believe the difficulty can be overcome in a similar way," Lee was quoted as saying. "What is urgently needed is international solidarity centered on freedom and peace."

During the meeting, Zelenskyy expressed hopes that President Yoon will visit the war-ravaged country.

Zelenskyy told the delegation he wished for Yoon to come to Ukraine and that he sent the president an invitation, according to footage posted on YouTube by PPP lawmaker Thae Yong-ho, who attended the meeting.

This photo, captured from the Facebook account of Lee Jun-seok, head of South Korea's ruling People Power Party on June 7, 2022, shows Lee (L) meeting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 6, 2022. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

On the same day, the PPP delegation also met with Oleksandr Korniyenko, the chief deputy speaker of the Ukrainian parliament, and other parliamentary officials.

Lee and Korniyenko discussed how South Korean companies with advanced technologies can provide "practical support" to rebuild Ukraine, according to the press release.

"The South Korean government has already provided US$10 million in humanitarian aid, but we are reviewing additional support considering the situation in Ukraine," Lee said.

The PPP delegation entered Ukraine from Poland on Saturday and plans to return home later this week.