Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned that Ukrainian troopers had captured two Chinese language residents preventing alongside Russian forces, including that Kyiv would demand a proof from Beijing and a response from its allies.
Moscow and Beijing have in recent times boasted of their “no limits” partnership and deepened political, army and financial cooperation since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
“Our army captured two Chinese language residents who fought within the Russian military. This occurred on the territory of Ukraine – within the Donetsk area,” Zelenskyy mentioned in a submit on social media on Tuesday.
“Now we have the paperwork of those prisoners, financial institution playing cards, and private information,” Zelenskyy mentioned in a submit that included a video of one of many alleged Chinese language prisoners.
Our army has captured two Chinese language residents who have been preventing as a part of the Russian military. This occurred on Ukrainian territory—within the Donetsk area. Identification paperwork, financial institution playing cards, and private information have been discovered of their possession.
Now we have data suggesting that… pic.twitter.com/ekBr6hCkQL
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2025
There was no instant response to the claims from both Moscow or Beijing, however Ukraine’s Overseas Minister Andrii Sybiha mentioned on social media that China’s cost d’affaires had been summoned for a proof.
“Chinese language residents preventing as a part of Russia’s invasion military in Ukraine places into query China’s declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing’s credibility as a accountable everlasting member of the UN Safety Council,” Sybiha mentioned.
China presents itself as a impartial social gathering within the battle and says it’s not sending deadly help to both facet, not like the USA and different Western nations.
However it’s a shut political and financial ally of Russia, and NATO members have branded Beijing a “decisive enabler” of Moscow’s invasion, which it has by no means condemned.
‘A response’ from allies
US President Donald Trump has been pushing for a speedy finish to the greater than three-year warfare since taking workplace in January. However his administration has failed to achieve a breakthrough regardless of rounds of negotiations.
Kyiv has repeatedly urged Beijing to strain Moscow to finish its invasion, which has value tens of hundreds of lives and but has nonetheless to date did not see the Kremlin obtain its core goals.
Zelenskyy mentioned Kyiv had proof that “many extra Chinese language residents” are preventing alongside Russian forces and that he had instructed his international minister to learn the way China intends to reply.
He mentioned the seize of the 2 males and the involvement of China within the battle have been “a transparent sign that [Russian President Vladimir] Putin goes to do something however finish the warfare”.
Zelenskyy additionally demanded “a response from the USA, Europe, and everybody on this planet who desires peace” in his on-line submit.
“I feel the USA ought to pay extra consideration to what’s taking place immediately,” he mentioned individually at a press convention in Kyiv.
The warfare in Ukraine, now grinding by way of its fourth yr, has attracted hundreds of international fighters to either side.
Ukraine has been urging its Western companions to reply to the Russian deployment of hundreds of North Korean troops to the western area of Kursk.
The Ukrainian army has been struggling to carry floor after launching an offensive on the border area final yr, though Zelenskyy mentioned for the primary time on Monday that Ukrainian troops had been working in Russia’s Belgorod area.
“The North Koreans fought in opposition to us within the Kursk area, the Chinese language are preventing on the territory of Ukraine. And I feel this is a vital level that we have to focus on with our companions, I feel urgently,” Zelenskyy added within the press convention.
Al Jazeera’s Zein Basravi, reporting from Kyiv, mentioned: “You possibly can see the map transferring. From the east, Russia continues to push additional and additional, taking city and village one after the other.”
Whereas Ukrainians will say that’s certainly taking place, in addition they say that “the combat isn’t over but”, Basravi added.
Kyiv, which dispatched its then-Overseas Minister Dmytro Kuleba to China final yr, has been looking for to deepen ties with Beijing, and Zelenskyy this week appointed a brand new ambassador to China.
