Ukraine and South Korea to Reset Diplomatic Ties in Paris

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is scheduled to hold an in-person meeting with his South Korean counterpart, Cho Hyun, in Paris. The primary objective of this encounter is to normalize relations between the two nations and restart their bilateral dialogue after a period of significant diplomatic strain.

The talks are taking place on the sidelines of the G7 foreign ministers summit, which is currently being held in the French capital. According to sources within diplomatic circles, the meeting aims to overcome existing tensions and agree upon concrete steps for future cooperation between Kyiv and Seoul.

Beyond the bilateral meeting with Cho Hyun, Sybiha is using his working visit to Paris to engage with other key international figures. He is expected to hold separate discussions with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, and the foreign ministers of other partner countries.

The recent diplomatic friction between Ukraine and South Korea stems from a dispute over the handling of two North Korean soldiers. These soldiers had been fighting alongside Russian forces and were captured in Kursk Oblast in 2025.

The issue came to light on September 23 when President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the United Nations General Assembly. During his speech, he announced that Ukraine had handed the two prisoners of war over to South Korea.

The disclosure prompted a sharp reaction from Seoul. On September 24, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung accused Zelenskyy of revealing sensitive information and stated that prior agreements had been violated. In response, the Office of the President of Ukraine clarified that no formal non-disclosure agreements had been signed between the two sides. Kyiv noted that the president had only disclosed the fact of the handover without providing specific operational details.

The dispute escalated further in October. On October 8, the South Korean Foreign Ministry announced the recall of its ambassador to Ukraine, Park Hee-chang, citing the ongoing disagreement over the information disclosure regarding the repatriation of the North Korean prisoners.

Pressure mounted as Seoul continued to signal its dissatisfaction. On October 27, Cho Hyun announced the withdrawal of eight staff members from the South Korean embassy in Ukraine, attributing the move to Kyiv’s failure to resolve the dispute. Seoul also summoned Ukraine’s ambassador and warned of additional measures if Kyiv did not issue a public apology.

Despite these escalating steps, the upcoming meeting in Paris offers a pathway to de-escalation. By bringing the foreign ministers together in a multilateral setting, both sides hope to find a diplomatic solution that restores trust and allows for the continuation of strategic cooperation.

The outcome of these discussions will be closely watched by international partners, as the relationship between Ukraine and South Korea has become increasingly important in the context of broader geopolitical dynamics and defense cooperation.