Ukraine-Russia war: UK has no evidence of Beijing links to captured troops as Kyiv confronts China
North Korea has already sent troops to help Russian forces – now Zelensky is demanding an explanation from Beijing
UK defence intelligence officials have no evidence Chinese soldiers captured fighting for Putin have links to the Chinese government, it is understood.
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 Donetsk, the Ukrainian president said, adding that Ukraine believes there are “many more Chinese citizens in the occupier's units than just these two”.
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 officials have so far found nothing that links the captured troops to the Chinese government.
It comes months after North Korea first sent troops to assist Vladimir Putin’s war effort in Russia’s Kursk region, where Moscow’s forces have reclaimed large swathes of land from Ukraine.
Russian officials and state media claimed on Tuesday to be close to regaining full control of Kursk after purportedly pushing Ukraine from one of its few remaining footholds in the settlement of Guyevo – although Moscow has frequently made such assertions prematurely.
As Ukraine withdraws from Kursk, Mr Zelensky confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops were now operating in Russia’s neighbouring Belgorod region.
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'There are many more' - Zelensky's comments on Chinese troops in full
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.”
Chinese troops in Ukraine 'undermines Beijing's credibility', says Ukrainian minister
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.
China another country accused of sending troops to Ukraine - after North Koreans fought in Kursk
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.
Zelensky: North Koreans only fought us in Russia - Chinese troops are fighting us in Ukraine
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.”
Chinese troops raise questions about Russian manpower problems - defence analyst
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?"
Watch: Zelensky shares video of captured Chinese citizens who he says joined Russia's war on Ukraine
Unlikely that Chinese authorities were involved in troops in Ukraine, says Russia expert
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.
US tells United Nations: We have no patience for bad faith talks on war in Ukraine
The United States “will have no patience for bad faith negotiation or violation of commitments” as it seeks to end the war in Ukraine, acting US ambassador Dorothy Shea has told the UN Security Council.
“We will ultimately judge President Putin’s commitment to a ceasefire by Russia's actions,” Ms Shea told the 15-member council.
Ms Shea is a career diplomat and was nominated to the post of deputy UN ambassador by Joe Biden in 2023, having previously been nominated by Donald Trump for the post of ambassador to Lebanon.
Trump should maintain current military presence in Europe, US general says
The top US general in Europe has advised that Washington should retain its military presence on the continent in its current form, as the Pentagon reviews its global footprint under Donald Trump.
The US military has more than 100,000 troops in Europe, but US defence secretary Pete Hegseth has told European colleagues that they should not assume that the US presence will last forever.
“It's my advice to maintain that force posture as it is now,” US Army General Christopher Cavoli told a House Armed Services Committee hearing.
Mr Cavoli said the military had periodically reviewed its troop levels in Europe since 2022 – when Washington poured 20,000 troops into the continent after Russia's invasion of Ukraine – but he had recommended against bringing troop levels down.
“I have consistently recommended throughout that period to maintain the forces we surged forward, and I would continue to do so if asked,” he added.
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