US knocks China over citizens captured in Ukraine war: ‘Disturbing’
The United States criticized China after Ukraine announced it had caught two Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces. “It’s disturbing with the Chinese soldiers having been captured,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a briefing Tuesday. “We’re aware of those reports.” “China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine. China provides...
The United States criticized China after Ukraine announced it had caught two Chinese nationals fighting alongside Russian forces.
“It’s disturbing with the Chinese soldiers having been captured,” State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a briefing Tuesday. “We’re aware of those reports.”
“China is a major enabler of Russia in the war in Ukraine. China provides nearly 80 percent of the dual-use items Russia needs to sustain the war,” she continued.
Bruce noted President Trump maintains that continued cooperation between Russia and China will only further “contribute to global instability.”
Her comments come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced earlier in the day that his country's military captured two Chinese men fighting in Ukraine with the Russian army, The Associated Press reported.
Zelensky said it was believed there were “significantly more” Chinese nationals within the Russian forces.
There was no immediate response from Chinese officials, but the Ukrainian foreign minister is demanding an explanation.
The reported capture marks the latest development in the more than three-year war between Russia and Ukraine. The Trump administration is looking to end the conflict, but has so far been unsuccessful in getting both countries to agree to a ceasefire deal.
It also comes as Trump is implementing steep tariffs on China, and as Chinese President Xi Jinping has improved relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling their countries true friends.
