Russia warns South Korea against possible supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko is seen, in this undated file photo. TASS-Yonhap

SEOUL, November 25 (AJP) - Russia warned that South Korea's supply of lethal weapons to Ukraine would "fully destroy relations" with Moscow, a senior Russian official said Sunday. 

"Seoul must realize that the possible use of South Korean weapons to kill Russian citizens will fully destroy relations" between the two countries, Moscow's Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told the country's state-run news agency TASS. "We will respond in every way that we find necessary," he added.

He also said that Seoul should "refrain from reckless steps" and take its approach based on "long-term national interests, and not by short-term opportunistic considerations prompted from outside."

Earlier this month, President Yoon Seok Yeol hinted that Seoul may shift toward providing lethal weapons to Kyiv in response to North Korea's troop deployment to Russia. So far, South Korea has modestly supplied some military uniforms and other equipment along with humanitarian aid.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said he expects the war with Russia to "end sooner" once incoming U.S. President Donald Trump begins his second term in the White House.

"It is certain that the war will end sooner with the policies of the team that will now lead the White House," Zelensky said in a recent interview with a Ukrainian media outlet.

Trump, who has frequently expressed skepticism about continued U.S. support for Ukraine and claimed he could end the war in a day, is expected to push for a quick deal as soon as he is sworn in January next year.