ISTANBUL

China on Thursday called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's claims that Chinese nationals are fighting on the side of the Russian military in Ukraine "irresponsible."

"We call on the relevant party to be right and sober about China's role rather than irresponsible remarks," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian told a press briefing in Beijing.

"Let me reaffirm that China did not start the Ukraine crisis, nor is China a party to it. We firmly support and actively strive for peaceful settlement of the crisis," the spokesperson said, referring to Russia's war on Ukraine which started in February 2022.

"The Chinese government always asks Chinese nationals to stay away from areas of armed conflict, avoid any form of involvement in armed conflict, and in particular avoid participation in any party’s military operations."

Zelenskyy said at least 155 Chinese citizens are fighting for the Russian military in Ukraine, and that two of them were arrested in the eastern Donetsk region.

"We continue to investigate all the circumstances surrounding the involvement of Chinese citizens in the Russian occupation forces," he said in a statement on Thursday.

The Ukrainian leader argued that "these are not isolated cases, but rather systematic Russian efforts, in particular on the territory and within the jurisdiction of China, to recruit citizens of that country for the war."

Beijing had earlier said the claims of involvement of Chinese nationals had "no basis in facts" and the arrest of citizens was being verified with Kyiv.