1 week ago
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Tuesday said Kyiv's troops had captured two Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces.
China has presented itself as a neutral party in the conflict and — unlike the United States and other Western nations — says it is not sending lethal assistance to either side.
What did Zelenskyy says about the Chinese fighters?
"Our military captured two Chinese citizens who fought in the Russian army. This happened on the territory of Ukraine — in the Donetsk region. We have the documents of these prisoners, bank cards, and personal data," Zelensky said in a post on social media.
The post included images of one of the alleged Chinese prisoners.
Speaking to reporters, Zelenskyy added that he had ordered Ukrainian officials to obtain an explanation from China, which he described as having joined Russia's war against
Ukraine.
Zelensky said Kyiv had evidence that "many more Chinese citizens" were fighting alongside Russian troops.
"I have instructed the foreign minister of Ukraine to immediately contact Beijing and find out how China is going to respond to this," Zelensky said.
He said the capture of the two men and Moscow's involvement of the Asian power in the invasion was "a clear signal that Putin is going to do anything but end the war".
The Ukrainian president said he expected the United States to react.
Russia has forged closer ties with several of the West's adversaries — including China and North Korea — since launching its war on Ukraine.
More to come on this developing story.
