Ukraine summons Chinese ambassador over controversial remarks - Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun visited the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on April 22, following newly uncovered evidence of Chinese nationals participating in the war on Russia’s side and Chinese companies being involved in weapons production on Russian territory.

According to Ukraine’s MFA, the ambassador was summoned today and met with Deputy Foreign Minister Yevhen Perebyinis.

During the meeting, Perebyinis emphasized that the involvement of Chinese citizens in hostilities against Ukraine, as well as Chinese companies participating in military production in Russia, is deeply concerning and contradicts the spirit of partnership between Ukraine and China.

Ukrainian intelligence services have passed relevant evidence to the Chinese side.

"In this regard, Yevhen Perebyinis urged China to take measures to halt any support for Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, which Beijing has repeatedly claimed it does not provide," the ministry said.

The deputy minister also assured the Chinese envoy that Ukraine values its strategic partnership with China and hopes Beijing will refrain from actions that could harm bilateral relations.

China’s role in supporting Russia in war

Despite strong trade ties between Russia and China, Beijing has repeatedly denied supplying weapons to any side and claimed non-involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine.

However, there has been mounting evidence suggesting China is helping Russia circumvent Western sanctions, thus fueling Moscow’s war effort.

In September 2024, it was reported that the West had proof of Chinese companies secretly supplying arms to Russia, which could mark a significant escalation in Beijing’s involvement in the war.

Earlier, Ukraine’s presidential sanctions policy commissioner, Vladyslav Vasyuk, told Reuters that about 60% of foreign components found in Russian weapons on the battlefield originate from China.

On April 8, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukrainian forces had captured two Chinese nationals fighting for Russia. China’s foreign ministry responded by saying it was "clarifying the situation" with Ukraine.

Later, Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine is aware of more than 150 Chinese nationals participating in the war on Russia’s side, showing that Chinese military personnel are actively fighting alongside Russian forces.

Most recently, President Zelenskyy claimed that China has supplied Russia with gunpowder and artillery. China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian denied these allegations, calling them false.

On April 22, Zelenskyy also said that Russia might have stolen Chinese drone technology and that Ukraine’s Security Service would share the evidence with Beijing.