Following Director Lizhenko’s guidance, we arrived at a safe house in Odessa, where he was waiting.
“Welcome. I’m Zelensky, President of Ukraine.”
“Yes, Mr. President, it is an honor to meet you. I am Kim Jae-seok, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Korea.”
“I apologize for setting such an irregular schedule. As you know, circumstances being what they are.”
“Not at all. Our delegation fully sympathizes with the difficulties Ukraine is currently facing. The President of Korea also made a point of asking me to convey his special words of comfort to you, President Zelensky.”
Minister Kim and Zelensky clasped each other’s hands for a long while.
Zelensky, too, seemed especially grateful for the Korean president’s consolation.
“...”
In truth, Zelensky, who had emerged as a hero of the free world in the early days of the war, had seen his standing gradually decline as the war dragged on for four years.
It was only natural. Every time he met with foreign media, he appealed for weapons and supplies... and among the citizens of neighboring countries, resentment had gradually grown: “Did he leave his weapons with us?” “He doesn’t know gratitude,” and so on.
“...”
But perhaps this was what it meant to suffer the same illness. Seeing his wretched state, I felt an even deeper pang of pity.
Eighty years ago, Korea had been no different from them. If anything, when the United States pushed ahead with armistice talks without guaranteeing our security, we released anti-communist POWs and disrupted the ceasefire.
When the United States heard the news, it immediately began plotting an operation to assassinate the Korean president—the Everready Plan—and Churchill was so shocked he cut himself while shaving... In a sense, Ukraine might be more well-behaved than we were.
“Thank you. Then I’d like to discuss reconstruction...”
No sooner had the greetings ended than Zelensky got straight to the point.
“In fact, I’ve heard a great deal from the EU leadership. They told me the Korean government would be providing sixty billion dollars in loans and grants?”
“Yes, that is correct.”
Minister Kim handed him the documents he had prepared.
“This is the list of reconstruction projects drawn up by the Korean government. Now that the war is over, the people of Ukraine must return to their daily lives as soon as possible. We will first restore five major power facilities destroyed in this war, and we will also help restore civilian residential facilities.”
“Thank you. But I heard you would also be helping us with an even more important resource than that?”
Minister Kim nodded carefully.
In truth, civilian-level support was almost entirely Europe’s share. Most of our support consisted of military supplies. We had decided to provide defensive materials along the long ceasefire line stretching from Kharkiv to Zaporizhzhia, and naturally, this carried a particular purpose.
“In fact, wouldn’t it be best for each country to help with reconstruction in the way it does best? Korea is a country with extensive know-how in various land fronts, including coastal defense lines. Since the Cold War, Korea is the only country where ideological confrontation has yet to end.”
Zelensky quickly understood the intent behind Minister Kim’s continued emphasis on military technology and asked,
“Minister, there’s no need to speak so indirectly. You are pouring such an enormous reconstruction budget into our country, despite our not being deeply connected. Naturally, if there is something that would help Korea, we should help as well.”
“Ah, yes...”
“You may speak frankly. What is it you want from Ukraine?”
Minister Kim smiled awkwardly, then turned his head toward me.
“It would be better for the working-level person to explain that directly. In fact, a considerable portion of the funds prepared this time comes from our NPS fund. Team Leader Lee?”
I bowed my head and said to Zelensky,
“It is an honor to meet you, Mr. President.”
“Yes, good to meet you.”
“In truth, there is nothing we want. We only hope that Ukraine will make the most sober and efficient choice when it comes to security.”
“What do you mean by that?”
I held out a document.
“This is the arms contract Korea and Poland signed during last week’s agreement. As you know, Poland has already ordered tens of trillions of won worth of weapons from us and is Korea’s largest customer. And now that same country has announced additional arms purchases.”
Zelensky nodded.
Poland was currently the country with the most geopolitical commonalities with Ukraine. The fact that such a country had ordered weapons from Korea on a large scale carried significant implications.
“Why Poland placed arms orders with us... I will not go into the detailed reasons. But there is one thing. With the money to buy one unit of another country’s weapon, you can buy five Korean-made ones.”
“Are you saying that when Ukraine introduces defense weapons in the future, you want us to consider Korea first?”
“Forgive my boldness, but I believe Ukraine will need an astronomical amount of money for reconstruction going forward. In that regard, Korean-made products are superior in every respect, both technology and price.”
Korean-made weapons are the cheapest. If you buy Korean-made weapons with similar specifications, you can buy five times as many. So please buy Korean-made.
I had said it as diplomatically and as indirectly as possible, but the meaning must have been conveyed.
“...”
But for Zelensky, it was not an easy decision.
Receiving Europe’s enormous reconstruction budget while introducing foreign-made weapons would be a difficult matter. He knew very well how uncomfortable France and Germany would be with Ukraine adopting Korean-made weapons.
“Fine. Let’s do that.”
But breaking everyone’s expectations, he answered immediately.
“Rather than just saying so, since we’ve met, let’s sign an MOU outright.”
“R-really?”
His drive was so swift that even our Minister Kim was surprised.
“Yes. Isn’t that the issue you came here for anyway? I assume that was also the reason you provided reconstruction aid.”
“That isn’t necessarily...”
“In fact, I have also been keeping an eye on Korean defense weapons for some time. For Ukraine, where every penny of our finances is precious, the price of weapons is an unavoidable issue. I was thinking of a contract along these lines. What do you think?”
As he said that, Zelensky held out a document.
Knowing that the reconstruction talks might come this far, he seemed to have already discussed it with his State Council members.
Minister Kim, receiving the document, was greatly surprised.
A three-trillion-won arms supply contract including K9s, Chunmoo, and Black Panthers. Multiple rocket launchers, howitzers, self-propelled guns, and various other types of weapons filled the MOU list. And this was only the first batch, leaving even greater possibilities ahead.
“...”
Minister Kim, who was carefully examining the document, could hardly contain his excitement.
The bonds Korea had decided to provide Ukraine this time, in loans and grants, amounted to sixty billion dollars. But with the signing of this contract, we had already recovered two billion dollars.
“However, there is one condition.”
“Please tell us.”
“Please produce all of these materials within Ukraine itself. As you know, once reconstruction begins, Ukraine will also need many jobs.”
“If that is the issue, please don’t worry. We, too, fully understand Ukraine’s position. In fact, since labor costs in Ukraine are lower than in Korea, we may be able to lower the delivery unit price even further.”
“Then can you give us more weapons by the amount the price is reduced?”
“Understood. We will discuss the details with the defense side.”
“There is one more condition.”
“Yes, please tell us.”
“Provide us with the same conditions as Poland.”
For an instant, silence fell over the conference room.
“...Are you referring to the missiles?”
“Yes. Through this war, we have keenly realized just how much of a game changer hypersonic technology is. Those missiles cannot be intercepted by any European-made air defense system.”
“...”
“In fact, I have already heard from the EU leadership why Korea received technology transfer from Russia. But I don’t want to argue over something meaningless. I would like you to sell Korea’s hypersonic missiles to us as well.”
Minister Kim looked troubled.
“Mr. President... I understand your position, but I do not think I can give you a definite answer on this matter.”
“Why not? I understand you made a side agreement with Poland.”
“As you said, this is Russian technology... When we received the technology transfer, several additional conditions were attached, and one of them was a ban on arms sales to hostile countries.”
“Poland is also a hostile country to Russia, is it not?”
“...Even so, they do not share a direct border. I’m sorry, but since it is Russia’s standard, it is difficult for us to judge.”
At the refusal, Zelensky’s face reddened.
Inwardly, I flinched. Famous for his fiery temper, was he about to overturn the whole table?
“Then let’s rewrite the contract. Ten billion dollars. Let’s make it ten billion dollars.”
“Y-yes?”
“Let’s quadruple the arms contract. In addition, for all weapons to be introduced into Ukraine going forward, we will give Korean-made products top priority. I know France and Germany will be uncomfortable, but I will stand up to them and say it is a matter of price and performance.”
“But...”
“Minister, I am certain. Going forward, Ukraine will be the front line of the West, and the largest concentration of weapons in Europe will gather here. Are you going to let this enormous market slip away?”
Minister Kim looked at me with a troubled expression.
At that, I answered as if I had been waiting.
“Mr. President, understood. Then I will convey what you just said to the Blue House properly.”
“Conveying it is not enough. As you know, I do not have much time left. Soon, Ukraine will hold a presidential election as well. And before I leave office, I absolutely want to settle this matter.”
“Understood. As you said, we will give you an answer before you leave office. Would that suffice?”
Zelensky nodded with a firm expression.
“Yes, that will do. If the Korean government promises to supply the missiles as well, my promise will remain valid.”
*
“Team Leader Lee, can we really do this...? The Blue House said so too. They told us to avoid talking about missiles as much as possible, whatever the case may be with other weapons.”
After the fierce meeting ended, Minister Kim came to me with a troubled face and spoke.
“What choice do we have? They say if we don’t give them the missile contract, they won’t buy the other weapons either.”
“That was just them bluffing once. Given Ukraine’s current economic situation, how could they rearm with European-made weapons? Those bastards have no choice but to use our weapons. The initiative is ours.”
“That is not necessarily the case. The leading EU countries will continue to apply silent pressure on them to use their own weapons. For us, too, it is important to get the contract stamped before that pressure begins in earnest.”
Minister Kim let out deep sighs.
“So what are you going to do? Among the conditions we agreed to when we received technology transfer from Russia, there is a clear clause on prohibiting weapons exports to hostile countries. Are you going to violate that?”
“It’s not as if there’s absolutely no way around it. If we swap out a few parts and export them, it won’t be a breach of contract.”
“Hey, Team Leader Lee! Do you think Russia is some pushover? If we just change the outer shell and sell the weapons, do you think they won’t know?”
I answered as if it were no big deal.
“So what changes if they know?”
“...What?”
“Russia is a pushover. For a considerable time to come, its economy will be in stagnation, and its dependence on China will grow to the level of a satellite state.”
“...Are you saying we should stab them in the back?”
“We’re the ones who got stabbed in the back. It’s not as if this was technology we got for free.”
I answered with a firm expression.
“Strictly speaking, the Kinzhal and Zircon were not technology cooperation, but a technology purchase. We bought that technology for sixty billion dollars. There is no reason for us to go out of our way to read Russia’s mood.”