Zelenskyy Does Not Rule Out a “Korean Scenario” for Ukraine: What It Could Mean

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine’s future hinges on its focus on development, humanism, and the support of allies. He also cautioned that the war could end in a scenario resembling the division of Korea following the Korean War.

He said this in an interview with the French publication Le Point.

“This is an example of how values have triumphed. The development of South Korea cannot be compared with that of North Korea, where there is real economic and civilizational decline. South Korea has made a leap forward in civilization, technology, and economics because it cultivates humanism. This is the most important thing for a state: the focus must be on people,” Zelenskyy emphasized.

He added that the main factor in South Korea’s security remains the United States, which provides military support and has prevented the communist regime from establishing control over the southern territories.

“South Koreans still face risks. Their economy is thriving, and they are protected, but as long as North Korea remains the way it is, South Korea will not be completely safe. And believe me, they have numerous air defense systems to guarantee their safety,” the president noted.

Separately, Zelenskyy emphasized the scale of the Russian threat, which, according to him, cannot be directly compared to the North Korean one.

“The threats from Russia are five, six, or even ten times greater. A complete replication of the South Korean model would probably not suit Ukraine from a security point of view. On the other hand, its economic model is a good example,” he concluded.

What is “Korean script”?

After the end of the Korean War (1950–1953), the parties did not sign a peace treaty, which led to the de facto division of the country. North Korea fell under a communist regime and descended into stagnation and isolation. In contrast, South Korea, relying on US support, built a strong economy, developed a robust technological sector, and became one of the world’s examples of successful development.

According to Zelenskyy, a similar scenario in Ukraine is quite possible.

“You ask me, can such a scenario happen in Ukraine? I tell you that anything is possible,” the president admitted frankly.

Recall that former Deputy Chief of the Canadian Defense Staff Mark Norman named three possible options for ending the war in Ukraine. In his opinion, the most likely scenario remains a truce or compromise. At the same time, he stressed that no solution should be imposed on Ukraine from the outside.

Earlier, the head of the Main Intelligence Directorate, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that it would not be possible to turn the Ukrainian authorities towards the Russian Federation now; therefore, he rejected the Georgian scenario for ending the war.

The day before, Kyrylo Budanov said that a ceasefire on the Ukrainian-Russian front should be achieved in 2025.

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