Russia notes Seoul's normalisation statements, says it would welcome practical steps
In short
Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on 20 October that Moscow notes South Korean statements about wanting to normalise relations and would welcome practical steps. He said Seoul links full normalisation to a change in the geopolitical situation, which he said means an end to the Ukraine conflict, and that Russia does not tie its relations with any country to Ukraine.
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Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko said on 20 October that Moscow notes statements by South Korean authorities about a wish to normalise relations and would welcome practical steps in that direction. He spoke to journalists, according to RIA Novosti and Interfax. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
Rudenko said South Korean authorities at the same time say full normalisation can take place only after what they describe as a change in the geopolitical situation, which, he said, means the end of the Ukraine conflict. He said Russia does not link its relations with any country to what is happening with Ukraine, and that any practical steps by its South Korean partners would be welcomed. [ 2 , 3 ]
Interfax reported that Rudenko said Russia was not the initiator of the break in relations with South Korea, and that Seoul joined the anti-Russian sanctions. An RBC summary likewise said Moscow considers that the worsening of relations began with Seoul, which joined Western sanctions, and noted that South Korea's president had earlier spoken for a pragmatic approach to relations with Russia. [ 3 , 5 ]
Why it matters
The remarks set out Moscow's public position on Seoul's stated wish to normalise relations. The documents give no sign of any concrete step by either side.
Key facts
- Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko told journalists that Russia notes South Korean statements about a wish to normalise relations. [ 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 ]
- Rudenko said Russia would welcome any practical steps taken by its South Korean partners. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Rudenko said Russia does not link its relations with any country to what is happening with Ukraine. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Rudenko said South Korean authorities say full normalisation is possible only after a change in the geopolitical situation, which, he said, means the end of the Ukraine conflict. [ 2 , 3 ]
- Rudenko said Russia was not the initiator of the break in relations and that Seoul joined the sanctions against Russia. [ 2 , 3 , 5 ]
Confirmed by several sources
Still unclear
- What practical steps, if any, Seoul is considering. Rudenko spoke only of steps Russia would welcome if they are taken; the documents describe none.
- Where Rudenko spoke to journalists. The RIA Novosti text carries a Dushanbe dateline and the Interfax text a Moscow dateline.
- South Korea's own position on the conditions for normalisation. The documents give it only as described by Rudenko, who used the words "as they claim"; one RBC summary adds that South Korea's president had earlier spoken for a pragmatic approach to relations with Russia.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- TASS published a report on Rudenko's remarks. [ 1 ]
- RIA Novosti published Rudenko's statement that Moscow notes Seoul's statements on normalisation. [ 2 ]
- Interfax published Rudenko's remarks that Russia would welcome Seoul's steps. [ 3 ]
- RBC published a report citing TASS. [ 4 ]
- RBC published a second piece on the prospects for normalisation. [ 5 ]