Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has leveled serious accusations against China, claiming the country is actively supporting Russia’s war effort with supplies of gunpowder, artillery, and potentially even weapons production on Russian soil.
Speaking at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday, April 17, Zelensky said, “We believe that Chinese representatives are involved in producing some weapons on Russian territory.”
Zelensky also revealed that Ukrainian intelligence had gathered evidence to back these claims and promised to provide more detailed information on Beijing’s alleged role next week.
In a significant development, Zelensky confirmed the capture of Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces for the first time since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022. The Ukrainian military, under Zelensky’s direction, controversially paraded these prisoners of war in front of the media.
China responded swiftly, insisting that the two captured men were acting as private individuals and reiterating its repeated warnings to its citizens not to engage in the conflict. Meanwhile, a contract reportedly reviewed by CNN, which was linked to another Chinese fighter, raised eyebrows. The contract outlined that the volunteer would engage in combat during wartime, support peacekeeping efforts abroad, and fight against “international terrorist activity” outside of Russian borders.
As tensions rise between Kyiv and Beijing, these new revelations could significantly impact China’s standing in the ongoing conflict.
