Ukraine war briefing: Zelenskyy says US ‘very surprised’ after Chinese fighters captured on frontline
www.theguardian.com
Thu, 10 Apr 2025 03:40:40 +0300
Ukraine president says more than 150 Chinese involved in fighting for Russia US lawmakers criticise reports of planned troop pullbacks in Europe.
What we know on day 1,142See all our Ukraine war coverageVolodymyr Zelenskyy accused Beijing of turning a blind eye to the recruitment of Chinese nationals to fight for Russia, adding he believed the US was very surprised by the revelation.
The Ukrainian leader said Kyiv has obtained passport details of at least 155 fighters from China in the war.
While Zelenskyy said Beijing knew its citizens were there, he didnt believe the country had given some kind of command they join the fight.Zelenskyy added he believes Russia is using social media, including TikTok, to recruit.
He said he was prepared to exchange captured Chinese soldiers with Ukrainian servicemen in detention.China called those claims groundless, saying they are contrary to an effort to find a political solution to the ongoing war.
The Chinese government always asks Chinese citizens to stay away from conflict zones, a spokesperson for the countrys foreign ministry said.
Russia has not commented on the existence of Chinese nationals joining its side.Zelenskyy said Ukraine needs at least 10 Patriot missile systems to intercept Russian ballistic weapons, just days before a summit at the Ramstein airbase in Germany.
We have repeatedly raised this issue with the American side and with everyone in Europe who is in a position to help.
We are counting on decisions, he wrote on X.Russian drones attacked Kyiv early Thursday.
Local officials said one person was trapped in a destroyed house and a downed drone started a fire in a storage area of the city.A bipartisan group of US lawmakers sharply criticised reports the Trump administration is looking to reduce the number of American troops in Europe.
The US has maintained a force of about 100,000 in Europe in recent years, an increase of 20,000 since Russia invaded Ukraine.A Russian family who fled to the US after protesting against the war are asking to leave on their own terms after working their way through the labyrinthine immigration process, only to get ensnared by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
I left home so that I wouldnt be afraid to be put into prison again, a member of the family said.
When I came here, I thought, worst case they can refuse us asylum.
But I didnt expect that something like this could happen.
Not again.
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