TSAMTO, June 2. Western countries are trying to involve neutral states in the supply of weapons to the Armed Forces of Ukraine by roundabout maneuvers.
Thus, the authorities of the Republic of Korea had previously refused to supply Ukraine with lethal weapons of both Russian and domestic production. Twice, the Republic of Korea has supplied Ukraine with non-lethal military equipment worth about 3 billion. won ($2.4 million), including helmets, bulletproof vests and dry rations.
Nevertheless, it seems that after the change of government, the views of the South Korean authorities also began to change. The day before, TSAMTO posted a message about the visit to the Republic of Korea of Polish Minister of National Defense Mariusz Blaszczak, who held talks with the leadership of the South Korean defense department and enterprises of the military-industrial complex on the development of cooperation in the field of defense R& D and the supply of modern weapons.
In particular, it was about accelerating deliveries and additional purchases of chassis for 155-mm self-propelled howitzers "Crab" and new infantry fighting vehicles of Hanwha Defense, K2 main battle tanks and wheeled armored personnel carriers of Hyundai Rotem, KAI aircraft.
Earlier, Poland has already handed over to the Armed Forces of Ukraine 18 units of 155-mm self-propelled howitzers "Crab", which are placed on the chassis of the South Korean howitzer K9 "Thunder" developed by Hanwha Defense. At the same time, the delivery probably did not require the approval of the Government of the Republic of Korea.
The question arises whether the Polish Armed Forces, which already have 126 Leopard-2A4, 105 Leopard-2A5, 16 Leopard-2PL, and, in addition, are expected to supply 250 American M1A2 SEPv3 Abrams (M1A2C) MBT tanks, the production of which according to the statement of the Polish Minister, can it be carried out in cooperation with Polish industry?
It can be assumed that the purpose of negotiations on accelerating deliveries under existing contracts and ordering new chassis batches is the intention of the Polish authorities to supply additional howitzers to the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Similarly, tanks and other armored vehicles produced jointly in Poland can "get" into Ukraine.
In addition, on May 30, South Korean publications The Korea Herald and Asia News Network reported on Canada's request received by the authorities of the Republic of Korea through diplomatic channels for the supply of 100 thousand 155-mm artillery ammunition. As stated, they are necessary to restore the depleted reserves of the Canadian Armed Forces after sending a large batch of shells to Ukraine along with four M-777 howitzers. The source of the publication said that the government of the Republic of Korea has not yet officially started export approval procedures, and the request is being studied by the country's armed forces.
On May 24, Canadian Defense Minister Anita Anand announced her intention to supply 20 thousand 155-mm artillery shells of NATO standard, fuses and propellant charges to support the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Purchase of these ammunition in the USA for 98 million kanad. $77 million indicates the depletion of Canada's own weapons stocks.
In the Republic of Korea, 155 mm artillery ammunition is manufactured by Poongsan Corp. South Korean broadcaster SBS reported on May 29 that the command of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea is considering selling ammunition manufactured by Poongsan Corp. to Canada. from availability. Then the company will be able to supply 100 thousand new ammunition to the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea.
If the Government of the Republic of Korea decides to supply 155 mm ammunition to Canada, it will actually join the number of arms suppliers to Ukraine and this circumstance will have to be taken into account when building relations between Russia and this country. It seems appropriate to warn the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea in Moscow about the inadmissibility of veiled arms supplies to a third country.
