Kyiv summons China’s ambassador to specific ‘critical concern’ over ‘Chinese language residents in hostilities in opposition to Ukraine’.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Chinese citizens are serving to to provide drones at a facility in Russia and advised that Moscow could have “stolen” drone expertise from Beijing.
The Ukrainian chief made the remark at a information convention in Kyiv on Tuesday, simply days after he stated China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia and following the latest seize of two Chinese language nationals fighting for Russia in opposition to Ukrainian forces.
“I requested the Safety Service of Ukraine to switch info of a broader nature to the Chinese language aspect concerning Chinese language residents who work on the drone manufacturing unit,” Zelenskyy informed the information convention.
“We imagine that it might be that Russia stole – made an settlement with these residents outdoors the agreements with the Chinese language management – stole these applied sciences,” he stated.
“The knowledge additionally describes the related Chinese language applied sciences for engaged on these drones. I feel it will likely be essential for Beijing to see how their companions are working with them,” he stated, in accordance with the Ukrinform information web site.
The Ukrainian president’s suggestion that Russia could have obtained drone expertise from China with out Beijing’s information could point out a softening of Zelenskyy’s tone in direction of the Chinese language, the Reuters information company stated. China has strongly denied involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs stated on Tuesday that it had summoned Chinese language Ambassador Ma Shengkun to specific Ukraine’s “critical issues in regards to the information of the participation of Chinese language residents in army motion in opposition to Ukraine”.
Zelenskyy beforehand stated at the very least 155 Chinese language have been combating with the Russian military – two of whom have been just lately captured by Ukraine – and that he had “info” that China was supplying arms to Russia.
Ukraine’s “Deputy Overseas Minister Yevhen Perebyinis confused that the participation of Chinese language residents in hostilities in opposition to Ukraine on the aspect of the aggressor state, in addition to the involvement of Chinese language corporations within the manufacturing of army merchandise in Russia, are of significant concern and contradict the spirit of partnership between Ukraine and China,” the ministry stated in a press release.
⚡️Ukraine shares proof of Chinese language residents, corporations concerned in Russia’s conflict.
In a gathering with Chinese language Ambassador Ma Shengkun, Deputy Overseas Minister Yevgen Perebyinis shared proof that corporations are producing army gear for Russia.https://t.co/S9Lt24l19D
— The Kyiv Unbiased (@KyivIndependent) April 22, 2025
“Proof of those information was handed by the Ukrainian particular providers to the Chinese language aspect,” the ministry stated.
The deputy international minister “known as on the Chinese language aspect to take measures to cease supporting Russia in its aggression in opposition to Ukraine, which Beijing has repeatedly acknowledged just isn’t the case,” the ministry added.
China final week staunchly denied offering weapons.
“The Chinese language aspect has by no means supplied deadly weapons to any occasion within the battle, and strictly controls dual-use gadgets,” Overseas Ministry spokesman Lin Jian stated on Friday.
There was no quick touch upon the newest Ukrainian statements from both Russia or China.