Ukraine's Zelenskyy says 2 Chinese were caught fighting alongside Russia

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — The Ukrainian military has captured two Chinese men fighting alongside the Russian army in the eastern Donetsk region and has information that “significantly more” are with Russian forces, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Tuesday.

There was no immediate comment from China. Beijing is not known to have provided Russia with weapons or military expertise, and it was not clear whether the Chinese had joined the fight on their own initiative. Russia allows foreigners to enlist in its military, as does Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said he asked his top diplomat “to immediately contact Beijing." He said China would be the third country to offer military support to Russia after Iran, which has supplied attack drones, and North Korea, which has supplied soldiers, according to American and South Korean officials.

China has provided strong diplomatic support for Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion of its neighbor in February 2022. Beijing has also offered an economic lifeline through the trade in energy and consumer goods.

Zelenskyy said a clash with Chinese soldiers occurred near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka in Donetsk, where six Chinese military personnel engaged Ukrainian troops. Two Chinese were taken prisoner, Zelenskyy said.

Ukraine’s Foreign Minister, Andrii Sybiha, said his ministry summoned China’s chargé d’affaires to demand an explanation, saying on X that “Chinese citizens fighting as part of Russia’s invasion army in Ukraine puts into question China’s declared stance for peace and undermines Beijing’s credibility as a responsible permanent member of the U.N. Security Council."

Russia has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting in Ukraine, and both sides are believed to be readying a spring-summer campaign on the battlefield.

“I cannot see any indications that would lead to a ceasefire or even a peace, but I see many indications (for) the continuation of the war,” Nico Lange, a senior fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis in Washington, said in an analysis Monday.

Zelenskyy spoke at a news conference in Kyiv alongside visiting Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever, who announced a 1 billion euro ($1 billion) aid package for Ukraine this year. Ukraine's president said they discussed joint military manufacturing efforts and Belgian private investment in Ukraine’s defense sector.

Meanwhile, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Russian Foreign Ministry officials will take part in talks with the U.S. in Istanbul planned for Thursday.

He didn’t say what the talks would be about, but the foreign ministry’s involvement suggests it is another round of talks about normalizing their respective embassies’ operations and increasing staff numbers after years of expelling each other's diplomats.

Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine

Belgium's Prime Minister Bart de Wever watches video demonstrating Ukrainian drone's work in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, shakes hands with Belgium's Prime Minister Bart de Wever in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, shakes hands with Belgium's Prime Minister Bart de Wever in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

Belgium's Prime Minister Bart de Wever, left, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy talk with Belgium and Ukrainian officials and businessmen in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy , center right, and Belgium's Prime Minister Bart de Wever, center left, attend a flower laying ceremony at the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

In this photo provided by the Ukrainian Presidential Press Office, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, right, and Belgium's Prime Minister Bart de Wever, second right, attend a flower laying ceremony at the Memory Wall of Fallen Defenders of Ukraine in Kyiv, Ukraine, Tuesday, April 8, 2025. (Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP)

In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, A destroyed U.S.-made M1 Abrams tank of Ukrainian Army is seen at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Russian 120mm mortar crew fire toward Ukrainian position at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

In this photo taken from video distributed by Russian Defense Ministry Press Service on Tuesday, April 8, 2025, Russian 120mm mortar crew fire toward Ukrainian position at an undisclosed location in Ukraine. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP)

ATLANTA (AP) — Atlanta Braves ace Spencer Strider strained his right hamstring on Monday while playing catch and was placed on the 15-day injured list.

Atlanta made the move retroactive to Friday, two days after Strider returned from elbow surgery and made his first big league appearance since April 5 last year. Strider allowed two runs over five innings in a 3-1 loss at Toronto, and the 26-year-old right-hander was slated to make his home season debut on Tuesday against St. Louis.

With Strider sidelined, the Braves will go with a bullpen game against the Cardinals. Manager Brian Snitker said they will decide on an opener on the day of the game.

Braves third baseman Austin Riley said he is hoping Strider's injury is a minor one.

“I hate it for the guy with everything that he’s been through,” Riley said after Monday night's 7-6 victory over St. Louis. "(With) everything that he’s been through, an arm injury and being out that long, that’s hard on the mental side of it, just grinding that long and finally getting back. I thought his start the other day was really good.”

Strider made just two starts in 2024 before UCL internal brace surgery on April 12. Strider finished fourth in 2023 NL Cy Young Award voting and was an All-Star, going 20-5 with a 3.86 ERA and a league-best 281 strikeouts.

Atlanta recalled right-hander Michael Petersen from Triple-A Gwinnett. Petersen pitched two scoreless innings against Tampa Bay on April 13.

The Braves rotation also is without right-hander Reynaldo López, who underwent arthroscopic surgery April 8 after one start. He will be out at least three months.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Spencer Strider (99) throws to a Toronto Blue Jays batter in the first inning of an interleague baseball game in Toronto, Wednesday, April 16, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)