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North Korea has already sent troops to help Russian forces – now Zelensky is demanding an explanation from Beijing
Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Chinese soldiers have joined Russia’s war effort, two of whom have been taken prisoner by Ukrainian forces.
Kyiv’s forces engaged in battle with six Chinese troops in eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainian president said on Tuesday, adding that Ukraine believes there are “many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just these two”.
It comes months after North Korea sent troops to assist the Russian war effort in its Kursk region, where Moscow’s forces reclaimed large swathes of land from Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky told reporters in Kyiv that there is a difference: “North Koreans fought against us on the front in Kursk, the Chinese are fighting on the territory of Ukraine,” he said.
But there has been no suggestion that Chinese authorities were involved in its citizens fighting in Ukraine.
Mr Zelensky, who released a video of one of the captured soldiers, said he had ordered Ukrainian officials to obtain an official explanation from China, which he described as now being part of Russia’s war with Ukraine.
The Ukrainian president says the development “requires a response” from the US and Kyiv’s western allies.
It comes after he confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops are operating in Russia’s Belgorod border region.
It is unlikely that Chinese authorities were involved in sending troops to Ukraine, Russia expert John Lough has told The Independent.
“I wouldn’t read too much into it,” said Mr Lough, head of foreign policy at the New Eurasian Strategies Centre.
“It’s very hard to believe that the Chinese authorities would be in any way involved in this because they’ve been extremely careful to limit their involvement in this war,” he added.
Mr Lough suggested the situation could be similar to the handful of Indian soldiers who were duped by promises of a job in Russia but ended up fighting in Ukraine, after being “coerced to serve in the Russian army”.
Almost 100 men from India, who say they believed they were moving to Russia for a safe and secure job, ended up serving on the frontline in Ukraine last year.
“I don’t think it’s a dramatic development. It doesn’t particularly surprise me though we would find citizens from other countries in the right army. At the end of the day, there are people from all sorts of backgrounds fighting on the Ukrainian side,” Mr Lough added.
Defence analyst Francis Tusa said the alleged presence of Chinese soldiers in Ukraine prompted many questions.
“If there are Chinese troops there, what is President Xi getting back from it?” he asked, speaking to The Independent.
“It does raise the question of whether Russia has got problems with its troops. They have only introduced very partial conscription and have tried to avoid making it Muscovites.
“It might be considered by Putin to be better to bring in Chinese mercenaries rather than his own people where there is a risk of potential rebellion and people saying no.
“However that would be slightly high risk by Russia as Trump does not like the Chinese.”
Mr Tusa said the US president wanted the war between between Russia and Ukraine to end so that he can focus on China.
“If China is providing troops to the Russians, Zelensky has a strong position that the people Trump does not like are in bed with Putin, so cut him some slack.”
Mr Tusa added that it might also raise the possibility that Kim Jong-Un is not going to provide limitless numbers of Korean troops.
“Is Russia actually more exposed than we think?”
Speaking to reporters after revealing that Ukrainian troops had captured two Chinese soldiers fighting in eastern Ukraine, Mr Zelensky compared the development to the North Korean troops who joined Russian forces months ago.
“This is another country that militarily supports Russia’s invasion of Ukraine,” Mr Zelensky told reporters according to the Financial Times.
“But there is a difference: the North Koreans fought against us on the front in Kursk, the Chinese are fighting on the territory of Ukraine.”
Volodymyr Zelensky’s claims that Chinese troops have been fighting in Ukraine may pose a significant development, months after it emerged that North Korean troops were supporting the Russian war effort.
The question whether it is treated by the international community as direct nChinese involvement in the Russian war effort – as in the case of the North Korean troops who fought with Russian forces in Kursk.
Today’s video published by Mr Zelensky on X, showing a Chinese soldier in Ukrainian captivity, is reminiscent of a video which emerged nearly three months ago – when the first North Korean prisoners of war were captured.
North Korea sent around 12,000 troops to Russia to help Moscow’s forces to reclaim much of the Kursk region, where Ukraine had seized large swathes of territory.
Although the picture today is not as clear cut as it was in the case of North Korea – with evidence showing thousands of North Korean troops fighting in Kursk – Mr Zelensky claims there are “many more” Chinese troops fighting within Ukraine’s borders.
The Ukrainian foreign minister has condemned the alleged involvement of Chinese troops in the war in Ukraine.
“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,” Kyiv’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha wrote on X.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Chinese citizens have been engaged in Russia’s war effort against Ukraine.
Here are his comments in full:
“Our military has captured two Chinese citizens who were fighting as part of the Russian army. This happened on Ukrainian territory—in the Donetsk region. Identification documents, bank cards, and personal data were found in their possession.
“We have information suggesting that there are many more Chinese citizens in the occupier’s units than just these two. We are currently verifying all the facts—intelligence, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the relevant units of the Armed Forces are working on it.
“I have instructed the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine to immediately contact Beijing and clarify how China intends to respond to this.
“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 is looking for ways to continue fighting. This definitely requires a response. A response from the United States, Europe, and all those around the world who want peace.
“The captured Chinese citizens are now in the custody of the Security Service of Ukraine.
“Relevant investigative and operational actions are ongoing.”
Volodymyr Zelensky has alleged that Chinese soldiers were caught after joining Russia’s war effort in eastern Ukraine.
Kyiv’s forces fought six Chinese soldiers in Ukraine, taking two captive, the Ukrainian president said, adding that he expects a reaction from Washington.
He has ordered officials to obtain an official explanation from China regarding its soldiers fighting in Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukrainian troops are active inside Russia’s Belgorod region, as Kyiv seeks to protect towns near the border.
The Ukrainian president described the move as “absolutely justified” as Ukraine looks to stave off Russian advances, as Moscow delays ceasefire negotiations in an apparent effort to seize more land.
After Ukraine’s foothold in Russia’s Kursk region collapsed in dramatic fashion – despite Ukrainian troops remaining in small pockets of the area – Kyiv may be searching to rebuild the leverage it had hoped to keep for any future ceasefire negotiations.
Read more here:
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has said the US will know within weeks whether Vladimir Putin is serious about peace.
Speaking at the end of a two-day meeting of Nato foreign ministers, Mr Rubio said: “We will know soon enough, in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace or not. I hope they are.
“If this is dragging things out, President Trump’s not going to fall into the trap of endless negotiations about negotiations.”
Washington’s Nato allies have accused Russia of stalling ceasefire effots, and Donald Trump has reportedly become wary of Mr Putin’s commitment to peace in Ukraine.
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Ukraine war live: Chinese troops fighting for Russia captured by Kyiv, Zelensky says – The Independent
