MOSCOW (Reuters) – The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed comments by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that China was being drawn into the conflict in Ukraine, saying that Beijing has a “balanced position”.
China warned Ukraine against making “irresponsible” remarks after Zelenskiy said Ukrainian intelligence had revealed at least 155 Chinese citizens were fighting on the side of Russia in Ukraine.
Zelenskiy said Russia was recruiting Chinese nationals via social media and that Chinese officials were aware of it.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Lin Jian called Beijing “a firm supporter and active promoter of a peaceful settlement of the crisis” and said China always attempts to dissuade its citizens from signing up to fight in foreign conflicts.
Asked about Zelenskiy’s remarks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was not dragging Beijing into the conflict.
“This is not the case. China takes a balanced position. China is our strategic partner, friend (and) comrade,” Peskov said. “Zelenskiy is wrong.”
Russia and China declared a “no-limits” strategic partnership days before President Vladimir Putin ordered tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine in February 2022.
(Reporting by Dmitry Antonov; Writing by Lucy Papachristou; editing by Guy Faulconbridge and Ed Osmond)
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