Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy mentioned on Tuesday that his army had captured two Chinese language males preventing with the Russian military.
Zelenskyy mentioned that this was a transparent signal that Russian President Vladimir Putin supposed to proceed the Ukraine struggle, probably threatening the continuing peace negotiations brokered by US President Donald Trump.
Ukrainian officers additionally mentioned that the seize of Chinese language troopers – the primary such occasion in additional than three years of the struggle – raised questions on Beijing’s dedication to peace. China has lengthy insisted that it’s a impartial occasion within the struggle and has pushed for a ceasefire, whilst its relations with Russia have strengthened all through the struggle.
Beijing has additionally, to date, averted sending weapons and different army gear for Russia to make use of within the struggle, whereas taking part in a key position in propping up the Russian financial system, battered by unprecedented waves of Western sanctions.
So does the seize of Chinese language troopers in Ukraine, if confirmed, counsel that Beijing is now altering its coverage and getting extra straight concerned within the struggle, together with with manpower help for Russia?
What occurred?
Zelenskyy posted on X, saying two Chinese language residents have been captured by the Ukrainian army in Ukraine’s Donetsk area. Russia occupied elements of Donetsk alongside different Ukrainian provinces in 2022. Zelenskyy wrote that the military discovered identification paperwork, financial institution playing cards and “private information” within the possession of the captured Chinese language residents.
“We have now data suggesting that there are various extra Chinese language residents within the occupier’s models than simply these two,” Zelenskyy wrote. He added that Kyiv is constant investigations into the matter and has contacted Beijing for a response. The captured males are at the moment within the custody of the Safety Service of Ukraine, in line with Zelenskyy.
“Russia’s involvement of China, together with different international locations, whether or not straight or not directly, on this struggle in Europe is a transparent sign that Putin intends to do something however finish the struggle,” Zelenskyy wrote, including, “This positively requires a response. A response from the USA, Europe, and all these world wide who need peace.”
Ukrainian Minister of International Affairs Andrii Sybiha mentioned this casts a shadow of doubt on China’s formal place advocating for peace. “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 wrote in an X publish on Tuesday.
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.
We have now data suggesting that… pic.twitter.com/ekBr6hCkQL
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 8, 2025
How has China responded?
China has denied Zelenskyy’s claims that a number of Chinese language nationals are preventing within the struggle.
“Such claims don’t have any foundation. In reality, China’s place on Ukraine may be very clear,” Chinese language International Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian informed reporters in Beijing on Wednesday.
“Ukrainian aspect must view appropriately China’s efforts and constructive position for the political settlement of the disaster.”
Are there previous studies of Chinese language troopers preventing in Ukraine?
Sure, information retailers and social media posts have beforehand mentioned that Chinese language mercenaries are preventing in Ukraine.
French information outlet Le Monde reported on April 6 that it recognized social media accounts of 40 Chinese language individuals who declare to have signed up with Russian forces. The outlet interviewed a 37-year-old Chinese language man who joined the struggle as a international mercenary in July 2023 and has since moved again to China.
In October 2024, there have been studies on social media that Ukrainian forces had killed two Chinese language mercenaries in Russia, the US-based Newsweek journal reported. Nevertheless, this was not backed by proof and couldn’t be independently verified by Newsweek.
Is China sending its troopers to combat for Russia?
No, even when Zelenskyy is true and Chinese language nationals are preventing in Ukraine on Russia’s behalf, that doesn’t suggest that Beijing has despatched them there.
Mercenaries from a number of international locations have arrived in Russia as vacationers and joined the military in preventing in opposition to Ukraine. A number of international mercenaries have additionally fought on Ukraine’s aspect in opposition to Russia within the struggle. And plenty of international nationals have claimed over the previous three years that they have been duped into becoming a member of the Russian or Ukrainian militaries after being promised different jobs – a profitable pay packet an incentive.
What different international fighters are concerned within the Russia-Ukraine struggle?
In 2022, Putin supported a plan to permit international fighters to hitch Russia within the struggle. Many South Asian males, predominantly from Nepal, India and Sri Lanka, joined as mercenaries in search of financial alternatives.
Whereas a Nepali Ministry of International Affairs official estimated that about 200 Nepali males have been preventing in Russia by the tip of 2023, many estimate that there is perhaps hundreds of Nepalis on the battlefield.
In February, the Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs mentioned that 127 Indian nationals have been serving within the Russian armed forces. It’s unclear what number of amongst these Indian nationals are nonetheless preventing in Russia. Based on the ministry final month, 16 Indian nationals who have been serving within the Russian military have gone lacking and the Indian authorities is in touch with the Russian authorities to seek out them.
South Korea, the US and Ukraine have additionally alleged that North Korean troops are preventing alongside Russian troopers in Kursk amid strengthening army cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russia has not explicitly confirmed this. “However there’s a distinction: the North Koreans have been preventing on the Kursk entrance in opposition to us,” Zelenskyy mentioned on Tuesday throughout a mixed briefing with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. “The Chinese language are preventing on the territory of Ukraine,” mentioned Zelenskyy.
In the meantime, Colombia-based Metropolis Paper Bogota reported in November 2024 that greater than 300 Colombian mercenaries preventing on Ukraine’s aspect had been killed through the struggle. Some Sri Lankans and Indians have additionally fought on Ukraine’s aspect.
Western nationals have additionally joined the struggle, preventing on the Ukrainian aspect. Many of those volunteer troopers are US nationals. It’s unknown what number of US nationals are at the moment preventing in Ukraine. A CNN investigation printed in January revealed that 20 People are lacking in motion in Ukraine, and casualties are spiking.
What’s China’s stance on the Ukraine struggle?
China formally claims a impartial stance on the struggle. Beijing says it doesn’t present Russia or Ukraine with deadly help, in contrast to Western international locations which have armed Kyiv with cutting-edge weapons.
“China welcomes all efforts geared toward selling peace talks and helps the institution of a balanced, efficient, and sustainable European safety framework to finally obtain lasting peace and stability in Europe,” Chinese language International Minister Wang Yi mentioned in February.
Nevertheless, China is a detailed political and financial ally of Russia and has continued to buy discounted Russian oil, which has helped fund Moscow amid financial sanctions from the West.
Western firms withdrew enterprise from Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Kyiv in February 2022. Nevertheless, Chinese language firms, together with tech giants Alibaba and DiDi, continued enterprise in Russia with out scaling again. Chinese language exports to Russia grew to fill the vacuum left behind by Western firms. In October 2024, Chinese language exports to Russia grew by 12.7 % in contrast with the earlier yr, Chinese language customs information confirmed.
China has additionally backed Russia in United Nations resolutions on the struggle. In February, China abstained from voting on a UN Basic Meeting (UNGA) decision which referred to as for “advancing a complete, simply and lasting peace in Ukraine”. In February 2023, China abstained from voting on a UNGA decision calling on Moscow to withdraw its troops from Ukraine. In April 2022, China voted in opposition to a UNGA decision suspending Russia from the UN Human Rights Council.
What’s the newest on Russia-Ukraine peace talks?
Since February, groups from Russia and Ukraine have individually met with representatives from the US for peace talks in Saudi Arabia. On March 25, the US and Russia introduced a Black Sea deal the place Russia agreed to halt using drive and cease the army use of business vessels within the Black Sea. Ukraine agreed to those phrases. All sides additionally agreed to a 30-day ceasefire on assaults on Russian and Ukrainian power infrastructure.
Nevertheless, Russia and Ukraine have since traded blame for violating the agreed phrases to date. Putin additionally has not agreed to a 30-day full ceasefire collectively greenlit by Washington and Kyiv.
On April 6, Zelenskyy posted on X, saying: “As we speak’s Russian assault included missiles launched from the waters of the Black Sea … A ceasefire at sea is not only about free navigation and the export of meals merchandise — it’s, above all, about general safety and bringing peace nearer.”
