Zelenskyy earlier claimed that the first capture of Chinese citizens fighting alongside Russian troops was proof of another country, China, supporting Moscow militarily in its war against Ukraine, after Iran and North Korea.
“But there’s a difference. North Koreans were fighting against us in the Kursk region, while the Chinese were fighting against us in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv on Tuesday. “Ukraine is a strong country, but we can’t fight against multiple countries alone.”
Zelenskyy’s assertion that many more Chinese citizens are fighting for Russia in Ukraine prompted criticism from Beijing.
“Such claim has no basis in facts,” Lin Jian, spokesperson for China’s foreign ministry, said at a briefing Wednesday.
“China’s position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis is very clear and is widely recognized by the international community,” he said. “The Ukrainian side needs to view China’s effort and constructive role for the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis.”
Beijing “is verifying the information with the Ukrainian side” about the two Chinese prisoners of war, Lin said.
“Let me stress that the Chinese government always asks Chinese nationals to stay away from areas of armed conflict, avoid any form of involvement in armed conflict, and in particular avoid participation in any party’s military operations,” Lin added.