China has many fronts open at the moment. In addition to its trade war with the US under Trump, it now adds the war in Ukraine. Kiev has accused the Asian country of having over 150 Chinese mercenaries recruited by Moscow through social media participating in the war.
This Tuesday, Zelensky announced that his army captured two Chinese men fighting within Moscow's forces in the eastern region of Donetsk, and on Wednesday, he accused Beijing of being aware of the Kremlin's campaign to recruit Chinese mercenaries and not taking any action. The Ukrainian president mentioned they have the surnames and passport details of 155 Chinese individuals fighting for the Russian army and believe "there could be many more."
Since the war began, Beijing has sold machinery and microelectronics to the Kremlin that could be used to manufacture weapons, say Western officials, in addition to providing an economic lifeline to the Russian government through energy and consumer goods trade.
Russia claims Ukrainian attacks on its energy infrastructure increased in the last 24 hours
The Russian Ministry of Defense stated that Ukraine carried out 11 attacks on Russian energy infrastructure in the last day, reported the state news agency RIA, an increase from the previous day and a violation of a US-negotiated moratorium on such attacks, as per Reuters.
Ukraine and Russia agreed to pause attacks on each other's energy facilities last month, but both sides have repeatedly accused each other of breaking the moratorium.
Technical talks between the US and Ukraine on a minerals agreement to start on Friday
Technical consultations between the United States and Ukraine on a minerals agreement will begin on Friday in Washington, as reported by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Olha Stefanishyna on Thursday to Interfax Ukraine, according to Reuters.
Negotiations between Russian and US delegations in Istanbul commence
Negotiations for the normalization of diplomatic relations between Russia and the United States started this morning in the Turkish city of Istanbul, confirmed by the Russian Foreign Ministry, as reported by Efe.
The US State Department mentioned on Tuesday that negotiators will address the restoration of some operations at the embassies of both countries.
The agency's spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, clarified in a press conference that they will not discuss the war in Ukraine or a full normalization of diplomatic relations.
China calls for a sober view of its role in the Ukraine crisis
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Thursday called for a sober view of its role in the Ukraine crisis when asked about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement regarding Chinese citizens' involvement in the war, as per Reuters.
China urges all involved parties not to make "irresponsible" statements, stated the ministry's spokesperson, Lin Jian, in a regular press briefing, adding that the Chinese government always advises its citizens to avoid any participation in armed conflicts.
A dozen injured in Russian attacks on Kiev and Mykolaiv
Russian attacks wounded 13 people during Wednesday night in Ukraine, in the capital Kiev and the southern region of Mykolaiv, as reported by rescuers and local authorities, according to Afp.
Ten individuals were injured in a nighttime attack by an enemy drone. An apartment in the courtyard of a five-story building caught fire after debris from the drone fell, and other apartments were damaged in the Mykolaiv region, explained emergency services on Telegram.
Defense chiefs from about 30 countries to meet at NATO to discuss a future force for Ukraine
The UK and France convened a meeting of defense ministers from about 30 countries on Thursday to advance plans to deploy troops in Ukraine to oversee any future peace agreement with Russia, as per AP.
The meeting at NATO headquarters, the first among defense ministers representing the so-called willing coalition, follows a visit to Kiev last week by British and French military commanders. They are expected to work on detailing an agreement reached in a previous meeting among leaders.
As is customary in coalition meetings, the US will not participate, but the success of the coalition operation depends on US support with air power or other military assistance. However, the Trump administration has not made any public commitment to do so.
Ukrainian Air Force claims Russia launched 145 drones during a nighttime attack
The Ukrainian Air Force reported on Thursday that Russia launched 145 drones during its nighttime attack, as per Reuters. The air force downed 85 drones, and another 49 did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures, it indicated. It did not specify what happened to the remaining 11 drones.
Russia shoots down 48 Ukrainian drones overnight
Russian air defense systems destroyed 48 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions during the night and morning of Thursday, as reported by the Russian Ministry of Defense, according to Reuters.
Thirteen drones were shot down in the Bryansk and Kursk regions, twelve over the Kaluga region, and others in the Belgorod, Moscow, and Oryol regions, as well as over Crimea, annexed by Russia.