The US said it was "concerned" by the capture of two Chinese citizens who Kiev says fought on the side of the Russian army in eastern Ukraine. Washington has once again accused Beijing of supporting Russia's war in Ukraine, Agence France-Presse reported.
"The capture of Chinese soldiers is disturbing", State Department spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters.
Announcing the capture yesterday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West "to respond" and demanded an explanation from China.
This is the first case since the beginning of the Russian invasion three years ago in which Ukraine has reported Chinese participating in military operations on its territory.
"China is one of the main supporters of Russia in the war in Ukraine," the spokeswoman stressed. "China supplies nearly 80% of the dual-use goods that Russia needs to sustain the war", she added, referring to goods that can be diverted for military use.
"Continued cooperation between these two nuclear powers will only contribute further to global instability and make the United States and other countries less secure, less protected and less prosperous," warned Tammy Bruce.
Beijing presents itself as a neutral party in the conflict, but is a key political and economic ally of Russia and has not condemned the invasion launched by Moscow, AFP recalls.