Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said that Ukrainian soldiers had captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces, adding that Kyiv demands an explanation from Beijing and a reaction from its allies.
Moscow and Beijing have in recent years boasted of their “no limits” partnership and deepened political, military and economic cooperation since Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022.
China has dismissed allegations that many of its citizens are fighting for Russian forces in Ukraine as “absolutely groundless”.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said China was “verifying relevant information with the Ukrainian side”.
“The Chinese government has always asked its citizens to stay away from areas of armed conflict (and) avoid involvement in armed conflicts in any form,” he added.
There was no immediate reaction to the claims from Moscow.
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on social media that China’s charge d’affaires had been summoned for an explanation.
“Chinese citizens fighting as part of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine puts into question China’s declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council,” Sybiha said.
China has said it is a neutral party in the conflict and says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side, unlike the United States and other Western nations.
But it is a close political and economic ally of Russia, and NATO members have branded Beijing a “decisive enabler” of Moscow’s invasion, which it has never condemned.
