Two Chinese citizens captured in Ukraine while fighting for Russia, says Zelensky

President Volodymyr Zelensky, from Ukraine, said on Tuesday that two Chinese citizens fighting alongside the Russian forces had been made as prisoners of war.

Zelensky said the two Chinese citizens had been captured during the fight in the Donetsk region, in eastern Ukraine. He added that Kyiv had information that “there are many other Chinese citizens in enemy units”, without providing evidence. The complaints could not be verified independently and there was no immediate commentary on the Chinese or Russian governments.

The announcement came at a difficult time for Ukraine, because the Trump administration has apparently come closer to Russia while trying to act as a mediator in cease-fire talks.

Mr. Zelensky on Tuesday did not suggest that Chinese fighters had been sent by the Chinese army, but he underlined their presence as additional proof that President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia was not really interested in peace.

“The involvement by Russia of China, as well as other countries, whether directly or indirectly, in this war in Europe is a clear signal that Putin intends to end the war. He seeks means to continue to fight,” he wrote on social networks.

Mr. Zelensky said he had asked his Minister of Foreign Affairs to “immediately contact Beijing and clarify how China intends to answer this”. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed that he had summoned Chinese affairs to demand an explanation.