Escalation: “The problem is serious” – a minimum of 155 Chinese mercenaries struggle for Russia | EUROtoday

The Ukrainian President Wolodymyr Selenskyj accuses Russia of “pulling” China in Moscow’s conflict in Ukraine. Russia has solely been concerned within the conflict North Korea and now China, Selenskyj mentioned to journalists in Kiev on Wednesday. “They move other countries into war. I believe that they are now pulling China into this war,” he added.

According to the Ukrainian President, quite a few Chinese residents are combating alongside the Russian troops in Ukraine – with the approval of the federal government in Beijing. “The ‘Chinese’ problem is serious. There are 155 people with names and passages who fight against the Ukrainians in the Ukrainian field,” mentioned Selenskyj. Russia promote these males by way of social networks, for instance Tikkok and added: “Beijing is aware of this.”

In his video message, Selenskyj identified that the Chinese combating on the Russian facet contradicted the official place of Beijings. China at all times warned of an escalation of the conflict. Exactly such an escalation represents the participation of Chinese fighters. Therefore, a tricky response is required. “The crew quota reinforcing and talking about peace are two exclusive things,” mentioned Selenskyj.

However, he additionally mentioned that it was not identified whether or not Beijing had granted “an order” for the participation of his residents within the conflict. “We don’t say that someone gave an order, we have no such information,” mentioned Selenskyj. He additionally emphasised that the nicely -known 155 Chinese residents have been solely the tip of the iceberg. He assumes that there are “much, much more”.

The Russian Presidential Office rejected a touch upon Chinese fighters in Ukraine. “I cannot comment on this information in any way,” mentioned spokesman Dmitri Peskow.

Beijing, in flip, rejected the allegations from Kiev, based on which many different Chinese struggle alongside the facet of Russia as “completely baseless”. The Chinese authorities has at all times requested its residents to avoid areas with navy conflicts. Ukraine ought to appropriately assess China’s efforts and constructive position within the seek for a political answer to the Ukraine disaster, ”mentioned a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. China is presently testing the scenario in Ukraine.

So far, China has been a impartial social gathering within the Ukraine War and explains to not help Kiev or Moscow with weapons. However, Beijing has considerably strengthened its political, navy and financial cooperation with Russia because the starting of the Russian assault in February 2022.

According to South Korea, Ukraine and the United States, quite a few North Koreans are additionally combating for Russia. According to this, Pyongyang despatched round 10,000 troopers to the Russian area of Kursk final October, which ought to assist to push the Ukrainian troopers again from the area. In December, Kyiv introduced the seize of North Korean troopers.

In addition, mercenaries are combating on either side. According to Moscow, the Russian military has to date caught Colombian, British, US residents and Australians.

The Ukrainian President continued that his authorities was able to alternate two captured Chinese residents for Ukrainian troopers captured in Russia.