Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky confronts China as UK has no evidence of Beijing links to captured troops
Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Chinese soldiers have joined Russia’s war effort, two of whom have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces.
Ukrainian officials said they found identification cards, bank cards and personal data on the two men, appearing to confirm their nationality.
Kyiv demanded an explanation from Beijing, summoning China’s charge d’affaires as foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said the development “undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the UN Security Council”.
But it is understood that UK defence intelligence officials have so far found nothing that links the captured troops to the Chinese government.
Zelensky said his forces battled six Chinese troops in Donetsk, of whom two were captured alive, adding that Ukraine believes there are “many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just these two”.
“Russia’s involvement of China, along with other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to do anything but end the war,” he wrote.
