Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope to restore relations with South Korea during the ceremony accrediting the new ambassador. He acknowledged that much of the past positive cooperation has been severely damaged but believes collaboration can be renewed.
On 15 January 2026, South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency reported that Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope to restore relations with South Korea after cooperation between the two countries had significantly declined over recent years.
The Russian leader’s remarks came during the accreditation ceremony for new ambassadors to Moscow, including Mr. Lee Seok-bae, the new South Korean ambassador to Russia.
Putin said it was regrettable that much of the positive cooperative capital between Russia and the Republic of Korea had been lost. He emphasized that in the past, the two countries adhered to pragmatic approaches and achieved genuine success in trade and business. He hopes to restore relations with South Korea once again.
Source: Yonhap / RIA Novosti