Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday that his navy had captured two Chinese men combating with the Russian military.
Zelenskyy stated 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 stated 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 get together 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 navy tools for Russia to make use of within the struggle, whereas taking part in a key function in propping up the Russian economic 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 navy 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 knowledge” within the possession of the captured Chinese language residents.
“We’ve got data suggesting that there are a lot of extra Chinese language residents within the occupier’s items 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 present within the custody of the Safety Service of Ukraine, in response to 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 undoubtedly requires a response. A response from the US, Europe, and all these all over the world who need peace.”
Ukrainian Minister of Overseas Affairs Andrii Sybiha stated this casts a shadow of doubt on China’s formal place advocating for peace. “Chinese language residents combating 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 submit on Tuesday.
Our navy has captured two Chinese language residents who have been combating as a part of the Russian military. This occurred on Ukrainian territory—within the Donetsk area. Identification paperwork, financial institution playing cards, and private knowledge have been discovered of their possession.
We’ve got 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 combating within the struggle.
“Such claims haven’t any foundation. In reality, China’s place on Ukraine could be very clear,” Chinese language Overseas Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian instructed reporters in Beijing on Wednesday.
“Ukrainian facet must view appropriately China’s efforts and constructive function for the political settlement of the disaster.”
Are there previous reviews of Chinese language troopers combating in Ukraine?
Sure, information retailers and social media posts have beforehand stated that Chinese language mercenaries are combating 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 overseas mercenary in July 2023 and has since moved again to China.
In October 2024, there have been reviews on social media that Ukrainian forces had killed two Chinese language mercenaries in Russia, the US-based Newsweek journal reported. Nonetheless, this was not backed by proof and couldn’t be independently verified by Newsweek.
Is China sending its troopers to struggle for Russia?
No, even when Zelenskyy is correct and Chinese language nationals are combating 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 combating in opposition to Ukraine. A number of overseas mercenaries have additionally fought on Ukraine’s facet in opposition to Russia within the struggle. And plenty of overseas 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 overseas fighters are concerned within the Russia-Ukraine struggle?
In 2022, Putin supported a plan to allow foreign fighters to affix 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 Overseas Affairs official estimated that about 200 Nepali males have been combating in Russia by the top of 2023, many estimate that there could be 1000’s of Nepalis on the battlefield.
In February, the Indian Ministry of Exterior Affairs stated that 127 Indian nationals have been serving within the Russian armed forces. It’s unclear what number of amongst these Indian nationals are nonetheless combating in Russia. In response to 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 combating alongside Russian troopers in Kursk amid strengthening navy cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. Russia has not explicitly confirmed this. “However there’s a distinction: the North Koreans have been combating on the Kursk entrance in opposition to us,” Zelenskyy stated on Tuesday throughout a mixed briefing with Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever. “The Chinese language are combating on the territory of Ukraine,” stated Zelenskyy.
In the meantime, Colombia-based Metropolis Paper Bogota reported in November 2024 that greater than 300 Colombian mercenaries combating on Ukraine’s facet had been killed in the course of the struggle. Some Sri Lankans and Indians have additionally fought on Ukraine’s facet.
Western nationals have additionally joined the struggle, combating on the Ukrainian facet. Many of those volunteer troopers are US nationals. It’s unknown what number of US nationals are at present combating in Ukraine. A CNN investigation revealed 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, not like 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 Overseas Minister Wang Yi stated in February.
Nonetheless, 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 corporations withdrew business from Russia following Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Kyiv in February 2022. Nonetheless, Chinese language corporations, together with tech giants Alibaba and DiDi, continued business in Russia with out scaling again. Chinese language exports to Russia grew to fill the vacuum left behind by Western corporations. In October 2024, Chinese language exports to Russia grew by 12.7 p.c in contrast with the earlier 12 months, Chinese language customs knowledge confirmed.
China has additionally backed Russia in United Nations resolutions on the struggle. In February, China abstained from voting on a UN Normal Meeting (UNGA) decision which known 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 against 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 navy use of economic 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.
Nonetheless, 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: “In the present day’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 total safety and bringing peace nearer.”
