On Thursday, China reiterated its commitment to supporting peace initiatives in Ukraine, urging all parties to refrain from making “irresponsible remarks.” This statement seemed to be a response to President Volodymyr Zelenskiy’s assertion regarding Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian forces.
Zelenskiy mentioned on Wednesday that Ukrainian intelligence had identified 155 Chinese nationals involved in the conflict, following the capture of two Chinese individuals in eastern Ukraine, where Russian forces have been making gains.
Foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian emphasized, “China is neither the instigator of the Ukrainian crisis nor a participant in it. We are steadfast advocates for a peaceful resolution.”
He called on all relevant parties to accurately and thoughtfully recognize China’s role and to avoid making irresponsible statements, without specifically naming Zelenskiy or any other officials.
China, which has established a “no-limits” partnership with Russia, is attempting to position itself as a mediator in the conflict while avoiding criticism of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine that began in 2022.
Zelenskiy also claimed that Russia was enlisting Chinese citizens through social media, suggesting that Chinese authorities were aware of this recruitment. He stated that Ukraine’s security service had compiled detailed lists of these individuals, including their names, birth dates, and the Russian military units they were associated with.
Additionally, Zelenskiy indicated that Ukraine was investigating whether these Chinese recruits were receiving guidance from Beijing.
Reuters has not been able to independently verify Zelenskiy’s statements, which China dismissed as “baseless” on Wednesday.
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Spokesperson Lin reiterated that the Chinese government consistently advises its citizens to avoid conflict zones and specifically to refrain from engaging in military actions on either side.
Zelenskiy criticized the presence of Chinese nationals, labeling it as Russia’s “second mistake” in the conflict, following what Ukraine and Western nations have characterized as the sending of over 11,000 North Korean soldiers to Russia’s Kursk area.
Russia has not publicly responded to Zelenskiy’s remarks regarding Chinese fighters and has not officially acknowledged the deployment of North Korean troops in the Kursk region.
