Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday accused Russia of "dragging" China into the war in Ukraine, claiming that Beijing is aware its citizens are being recruited by Moscow to fight.

Zelensky—whose wartime leadership faces new challenges with Donald Trump back in the White House—also revealed that Kyiv is prepared to purchase up to $50 billion worth of U.S. military equipment. He said Ukrainian officials will meet with a U.S. delegation next week, part of Washington’s broader push for a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv.

According to Zelensky, Kyiv has identified more than 150 Chinese nationals deployed to the front lines, including two reportedly captured in the eastern Donetsk region just a day earlier. He said Ukraine is willing to release the captured Chinese in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war held by Russia.

"Such an overt involvement of Chinese citizens in combat operations on the territory of Ukraine is a deliberate step towards expanding the war," Zelensky said. "This is yet another indication that Moscow simply needs to drag out the fighting."

His remarks came hours after Beijing denied that its citizens were being recruited in large numbers and warned Chinese nationals to “avoid involvement in armed conflicts.”

"This is the second mistake for Russia. The first was North Korea. They drag other countries into war. I believe that they are now dragging China into this war," Zelensky said.

Ukrainian, South Korean, and Western intelligence agencies have accused Pyongyang of sending over 10,000 soldiers to support Russia last year, following Ukraine’s cross-border assault on the Kursk region.

“The 'Chinese' issue is serious. There are 155 people with names and passport details who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine," Zelensky told journalists. He added that Kyiv is gathering evidence of even more individuals.

A document shared with AFP by a senior Ukrainian official listed the alleged names and passport details of 168 Chinese nationals said to have joined Russia’s military ranks, according to Ukrainian intelligence.

Zelensky did not accuse China of directly deploying the fighters but said Chinese authorities were fully aware of the recruitment process.

“It is clear how they recruit them. One of the schemes is through social media, in particular TikTok and other Chinese social networks, where Russians distribute commercials,” Zelensky said. “Beijing is aware of this,” he added.

‘Absolutely groundless’

On Tuesday, Zelensky published a video of one of the two captured Chinese fighters, dressed in military fatigues with bound hands, mimicking combat sounds and speaking briefly in Mandarin. Ukrainian forces said they had recovered Chinese ID cards and Russian military contracts from the pair.

Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian dismissed the claims as "absolutely groundless," saying, "The Chinese government has always asked its citizens to stay away from areas of armed conflict (and) avoid involvement in armed conflicts in any form.”

He added that Beijing is verifying the situation with Kyiv.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declined to comment when asked about Zelensky's claims during a daily briefing.

While China maintains it is a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict and insists it has not sent lethal aid to either side, NATO has labeled Beijing a "decisive enabler" of Russia’s invasion. China has never condemned the war.

"The Chinese side's position on the issue of the Ukraine crisis is clear and unequivocal, and has won widespread approval from the international community," Lin said. "The Ukrainian side should correctly view China's efforts and constructive role in pushing for a political resolution to the Ukraine crisis."

'Unacceptable'

Zelensky also claimed that Washington was alarmed by the presence of Chinese nationals in the Russian military.

“The United States of America is very much surprised and believes that this is unacceptable. These are the signals they have sent us,” he said.

Turning to defense relations, Zelensky said Kyiv had told Washington it is willing to invest significantly in U.S. arms. “We are ready to find 30 billion or 50 billion (dollars)” for American military equipment, he said.

(Source: Daria ANDRIIEVSKA, AFP)