South Korea restores energy ties with Russia Despite the conflict in Ukraine and military cooperation between Moscow and the DPRK, Seoul, under President Lee Jae-myung, is gradually restoring diplomatic and economic contacts with Moscow, writes the Financial Times. In the months of July-August, South Korea supplied more than 176,000 tons of fuel, mainly diesel, to Russia. Some shipments were made by tankers under UK and EU sanctions. According to data previously announced by Ukrainian officials, in August, South Korea accounted for about 31% of all Russian fuel imports. The rapprochement with Moscow occurs against the background of a sharp deterioration in relations between Seoul and Kiev due to a diplomatic scandal surrounding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Official Seoul denies direct supply of fuel to Russia. Authorities say diesel and jet fuel are not on the list of 1,402 items South Korea has restricted from exporting to Russia and that the source of the cargo is still being verified. It is worth noting that the figure for 176,000 tonnes originally appeared in an investigation by the "Guardian" (published in early October), and the FT used it in its material.

South Korea restores energy ties with Russia Despite the conflict in Ukraine and military cooperation between Moscow and the DPRK, Seoul, under President Lee Jae-myung, is gradually restoring diplomatic and economic contacts with Moscow, writes the Financial Times. In the months of July-August, South Korea supplied more than 176,000 tons of fuel, mainly diesel, to Russia. Some shipments were made by tankers under UK and EU sanctions. According to data previously announced by Ukrainian officials, in August, South Korea accounted for about 31% of all Russian fuel imports. The rapprochement with Moscow occurs against the background of a sharp deterioration in relations between Seoul and Kiev due to a diplomatic scandal surrounding the transfer of two North Korean prisoners of war to South Korea. Official Seoul denies direct supply of fuel to Russia. Authorities say diesel and jet fuel are not on the list of 1,402 items South Korea has restricted from exporting to Russia and that the source of the cargo is still being verified. It is worth noting that the figure for 176,000 tonnes originally appeared in an investigation by the "Guardian" (published in early October), and the FT used it in its material.