Kyiv summons China’s ambassador to specific ‘critical concern’ over ‘Chinese language residents in hostilities towards Ukraine’.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has claimed that Chinese citizens are serving to to supply drones at a facility in Russia and prompt that Moscow might have “stolen” drone expertise from Beijing.
The Ukrainian chief made the remark at a information convention in Kyiv on Tuesday, simply days after he mentioned China was supplying weapons and gunpowder to Russia and following the latest seize of two Chinese language nationals fighting for Russia towards Ukrainian forces.
“I requested the Safety Service of Ukraine to switch info of a broader nature to the Chinese language aspect relating to Chinese language residents who work on the drone manufacturing unit,” Zelenskyy informed the information convention.
“We consider 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 mentioned.
“The data additionally describes the related Chinese language applied sciences for engaged on these drones. I feel it is going to be essential for Beijing to see how their companions are working with them,” he mentioned, in keeping with the Ukrinform information web site.
The Ukrainian president’s suggestion that Russia might have obtained drone expertise from China with out Beijing’s data might point out a softening of Zelenskyy’s tone in direction of the Chinese language, the Reuters information company mentioned. China has strongly denied involvement in Russia’s war on Ukraine.
Ukraine’s Ministry of Overseas Affairs mentioned on Tuesday that it had summoned Chinese language Ambassador Ma Shengkun to specific Ukraine’s “critical considerations concerning the information of the participation of Chinese language residents in navy motion towards Ukraine”.
Zelenskyy beforehand mentioned not less than 155 Chinese language had been combating with the Russian military – two of whom had been not too long ago captured by Ukraine – and that he had “info” that China was supplying arms to Russia.
Ukraine’s “Deputy Overseas Minister Yevhen Perebyinis harassed that the participation of Chinese language residents in hostilities towards Ukraine on the aspect of the aggressor state, in addition to the involvement of Chinese language corporations within the manufacturing of navy merchandise in Russia, are of great concern and contradict the spirit of partnership between Ukraine and China,” the ministry mentioned in an announcement.
⚡️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 navy gear for Russia.https://t.co/S9Lt24l19D
— The Kyiv Impartial (@KyivIndependent) April 22, 2025
“Proof of those information was handed by the Ukrainian particular providers to the Chinese language aspect,” the ministry mentioned.
The deputy international minister “known as on the Chinese language aspect to take measures to cease supporting Russia in its aggression towards Ukraine, which Beijing has repeatedly said just isn’t the case,” the ministry added.
China final week staunchly denied offering weapons.
“The Chinese language aspect has by no means offered deadly weapons to any celebration within the battle, and strictly controls dual-use objects,” Overseas Ministry spokesman Lin Jian mentioned on Friday.
There was no rapid touch upon the newest Ukrainian statements from both Russia or China.