Donald Trump has pledged that US officials will look into evidence that Chinese mercenaries are fighting alongside Russian forces against Ukraine.
Asked whether he could verify the claims by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and if so, what he would do about it, Mr Trump told his cabinet: “We'll look into it. But I think beyond that, we're really looking to get that war stopped.”
The Ukrainian president has accused Russia of systematically recruiting Chinese citizens to fight against his country, claiming 155 are fighting in Ukraine. Beijing has dubbed the claims “baseless” and Moscow denies dragging China into the conflict.
Ukraine’s leader had questioned the lack of interest from the US over the revelation.
It came as the US State Department said Washington’s ambassador to Ukraine, Bridget Brink, is stepping down from her role – in a move that injects new uncertainty into the relationship between Washington and Kyiv.ashin
Ms Brink was nominated for the post by former president Joe Biden and has served as ambassador in Kyiv since May 2022. She is leaving on her own accord, sources said.
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Key points
- United States will look into claims Chinese citizens fighting for Russia, Trump pledges
- US ambassador to Ukraine stepping down, State Department says
- Prince Harry meets war victims
- Russia systematically recruiting Chinese fighters for Ukraine war, says Zelensky
- Meeting of 'coalition of the willing' defence ministers begins at Nato HQ
Russian drone attack near Kyiv kills one person
22:45
,
Jane Dalton
A Russian drone struck an apartment building on Thursday evening in Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv, killing one person and injuring five, including a child, the regional governor said.
Governor Vitaliy Bunechko, in a video posted on Telegram, said five buildings in Zhytomyr district had sustained damage. Much of the facade behind him had been burned and smashed.
Public broadcaster Suspilne quoted residents as saying the attack struck the town of Ozerne, the site of a major military airfield.
Prince Harry pictured with wounded soldiers in surprise visit to Ukraine
21:45
,
Jane Dalton
US ambassador to Ukraine quits
21:15
,
Jane Dalton
US Ambassador to Ukraine Bridget Brink is stepping down from her role, a State Department spokesperson has said, in a move that injects new uncertainty into the relationship between Washington and Kyiv.
Ms Brink was nominated for the post by former President Joe Biden and has served as ambassador in Kyiv since May 2022. She is leaving on her own accord, sources said.
It is unclear who will take over as ambassador. The US official and another person familiar with the matter said Chris Smith, the deputy assistant secretary for Eastern Europe and policy and regional affairs in the Bureau of European and Eurasian Affairs, is being considered.
Prince Harry meets war victims
20:30
,
Jane Dalton
Prince Harry has met war victims in an unannounced visit to Ukraine as part of his work with wounded veterans, a spokesperson said.
Harry visited the Superhumans Centre, an orthopaedic clinic in Lviv that treats and rehabilitates wounded military personnel and civilians, to see top-notch services provided in a country in the midst of war.
The centre provides prosthetics, reconstructive surgery and psychological help free of charge.
The Duke of Sussex, who served 10 years in the British Army, has made helping injured soldiers one of his most prominent causes.
Trump 'appreciates' Moscow release of woman from jail
19:55
US president Donald Trump has said he “appreciates” Moscow’s release of a Russian-American woman convicted of treason in a prisoner swap.
Ksenia Karelina is "on a plane back home to the United States," US secretary of state Marco Rubio said in a post on social media.
Mr Trump said: "They released the young ballerina and she is now out, and that was good. So we appreciate that."
Ms Karelina was arrested in Yekaterinburg last February and convicted of treason on charges stemming from a donation of about 52 dollars (£40) to a charity helping Ukraine.
Trump's envoy 'not convinced yet' that Chinese soldiers were deployed by Beijing
19:31
,
Alex Croft
Keith Kellogg, Trump's special envoy to Ukraine and Russia, said he is "not convinced yet" that the Chinese personnel identified as fighting on behalf of Russia against Ukraine are more than mercenaries or volunteers.
"There's an axiom in the military, the first report is always wrong," Kellogg said during an appearance yesterday at Georgetown University.
"And this is one of those let's sit back and see how this plays out, because it could be volunteers," he said.
Mr Kellogg noted that Ukraine also has volunteers from other countries, including the United States, fighting on its behalf.
He added that the early reports of Chinese personnel are not on par with North Korea's deployment of thousands of troops to the frontlines.
What the capture of Chinese soldiers says about Beijing’s role in Ukraine
19:01
,
Alex Croft
The Chinese prisoner has a fearful expression as his Ukrainian captors train a video camera on him. He speaks in Mandarin, the common language of his homeland. His green uniform is like any regular soldier’s. But is it proof that China is fighting alongside the Russian army?
This is a hybrid war and while China has not disputed the facts, the boundaries of truth are cloaked in deniability. The incident – astutely publicised by Ukraine just as America is in a trade showdown with China – has illuminated the shadows of a very modern conflict.
Michael Sheridan writes:
US will look into claims Chinese fighting with Russia, Trump pledges
18:51
,
Jane Dalton
President Trump says his government will look into claims by his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky that Chinese mercenaries are fighting alongside Russian forces against his country.
Mr Trump told members of his cabinet: “The Ukrainians say they have evidence that Chinese soldiers being found twice before the Russians in Ukraine – can you verify this?”
“And if so, what does the US plan on doing to identify... we'll look into it. But I think beyond that, we're really looking to get that war stopped.”
Mapped: Russia's Donetsk advance slows as Kyiv launches counterattacks
18:30
,
Alex Croft
Russia releases dual citizen who donated to Ukraine charity in US prisoner swap
18:00
,
Alex Croft
Russia has released a dual citizen who was jailed for donating to a charity providing aid to Ukraine in exchange for a German-Russian citizen accused of exporting US electronics for use in Moscow's military.
Ksenia Karelina, who was found guilty of treason by a Russian court last year for donating money to a US charity providing humanitarian support, is on her way to the US.
Mr Karelina’s lawyer said she was released in a swap with Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen arrested in 2023 in Cyprus for exporting sensitive microelectronics.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe said: "Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia. I'm proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Government of UAE for enabling the exchange."
Pictured: Ukrainian troops defend eastern Donetsk front from Russian advances
17:31
,
Alex Croft
King Charles discusses Ukraine and Nato in Italian parliament address
16:29
,
Alex Croft
During his third day of a state visit to Italy, King Charles hailed Rome’s steadfastness in supporting Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.
The state visit has been seen as part of an ongoing effort by London to strengthen ties with its European allies amid global turbulence and rising instability.
"Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter," he told Italian parliamentarians, warning that images of wars were now reverberating again across the continent.
Charles added that Italian and British armed forces "stand side by side" as part of the Nato alliance, noting the two countries' joint plans to develop with Japan a new fighter jet.
“It will generate thousands of jobs in our countries and speaks volumes about the trust we place in each other," he said.
US-Ukraine minerals negotiations to begin in Washington on Friday
15:59
,
Alex Croft
The US and Ukraine will begin technical consultations on a minerals deal in Washington on Friday, deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna said according to Interfax Ukraine.
They will discuss a new draft agreement from the US, which is more extensive than the one which fell through following Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump’s White House clash on 28 February.
“The new draft agreement from the U.S. shows that the intention to create a fund or jointly invest remains,” Svyrydenko said Saturday, during a trip to northern Ukraine.
The delegation from Kyiv will include representatives from the Ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Finance, who will hope to bolster the strained relations between Ukraine and the US amid long-running negotiations over a mineral deal.
Mapped: All Ukrainian incursions into Russia - including activity in Belgorod confirmed by Zelensky
15:31
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed that Ukrainian troops are active inside Russia’s Belgorod region, as Kyiv seeks to protect towns near the border.
The Ukrainian president described the move as “absolutely justified” as Ukraine looks to stave off Russian advances, as Moscow delays ceasefire negotiations in an apparent effort to seize more land.
After Ukraine’s foothold in Russia’s Kursk region collapsed in dramatic fashion - despite Ukrainian troops remaining in small pockets of the area - Kyiv may be searching to rebuild the leverage it had hoped to keep for any future ceasefire negotiations.
In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had presented a report "on the front line, our presence in the Kursk region and our presence in the Belgorod region."
Read the full report:
Russia systematically recruiting Chinese fighters for Ukraine war, says Zelensky
15:07
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Moscow of systematically recruiting Chinese fighters to join Russian forces in Ukraine.
It comes days after Ukrainian forces captured two Chinese men fighting in the Donetsk region, with the Ukrainian president alleging that there are more than 150 Chinese citizens fighting for Russia.
"It is obvious that these are not isolated cases, but systemic Russian work, in particular, on the territory and in the jurisdiction of China, to recruit citizens of this state for war," Mr Zelensky said in a statement on social media.
Fresh pictures emerge of Chinese citizens caught in Ukraine
15:02
,
Alex Croft
Zelensky: I do not understand why US is not reacting to Russian attacks
14:45
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he does not understand why Washington has not responded strongly towards repeated Russian drone attacks on civilian areas in Ukraine.
“America is clearly seeing today the actions undertaken by Russia,” he said.
"I do not understand why America is not reacting forcefully towards Russia. There is nothing in terms of diplomacy or statements."
US involvement in peacekeeping is 'crucial', say coalition members
14:41
,
Alex Croft
The US, which is not at the Brussels summit, has been reluctant to actively support plans for peacekeeping efforts in Ukraine.
But European nations have repeatedly emphasised the important of American military backup for any peacekeeping force in the ground in Ukraine, in the event of a ceasefire.
Without the so-called US backstop, peacekeeping troops may not be enough to deter Russia from further aggression.
Arriving at today’s summit, defence secretaries from the Netherlands, Sweden and Finland underlined the "crucial" role of the United States.
"The United States is a crucial player still in guaranteeing lasting security" in Ukraine, said Finnish defense minister Annit Hakkanen.
His Swedish counterpart, Pål Jonson, said success in Ukraine requires "some form of U.S. engagement" while Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans called American support "very important" but said the form it took might differ, depending on the chosen type of European mission in Ukraine.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said ministers were "trying to keep the United States on board”.
14:29
,
Alex Croft
We must not jeopardise peace by forgetting about war - Healey
13:57
,
Alex Croft
The UK’s defence secretary, John Healey, is issuing opening remarks to a meeting of the coalition of the willing in Brussels.
He tells partners that he was “struck” by the sense of “historic responsibility” after visiting a meeting of military leaders from around 30 countries two weeks ago.
“A couple of weeks ago, I visited the UK’s Permanent Joint Headquarters where military leaders from around 30 nations were developing options and progressing plans,” Mr Healey will tell coalition members.
“I was struck by their sense of historic responsibility to secure the peace in Ukraine and to strengthen European security for all our nations.
“We cannot jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war, and the daily reality for millions of Ukrainians continues. So we must put even more pressure on Putin and step up our support for Ukraine – both in today’s fight and the push for peace.
“Our commitment is to put Ukraine in the strongest position to protect Ukraine’s sovereignty and deter future Russian aggression.”
Pictured: Ukrainian unmanned ground vehicle fires grenade launcher
13:53
,
Alex Croft
Ministers arrive at coalition of the willing summit
13:42
,
Alex Croft
Defence ministers have begun to arrive at the Nato headquarters for a meeting of the coalition of the willing.
On the agenda today: a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
Hosted by UK defence secretary John Healey and his French counterpart Sébastien Lecornu, the meeting will focus on how each nation could be best used in supporting Ukraine’s long-term security in the event of a peace deal.
We’ll bring you all the key lines from the summit here.
Reducing army size is red line for peace deal - Kyiv
13:31
,
Alex Croft
Kyiv regards curbing the size of its armed forces would be deemed a red line in any peace deal, a senior Ukrainian official has said.
Vladimir Putin has said he wants the size of Ukraine's army to be reduced, and has called on Ukraine to drop its ambitions to join Nato. The Russian autocrat also said Moscow must control the entirety of four Ukrainian regions it claims as its own.
"This is a principled position of Ukraine - no one, and certainly not the aggressor country Russia, will dictate to Ukraine what kind of armed forces Ukraine should have," senior official Pavlo Palisa told Reuters.
He said a well-prepared military would be Ukraine’s best security guarantee against Russian attacks if a ceasefire is reached.
More from Kremlin on Chinese troops in Ukraine
13:24
,
Alex Croft
Asked about Volodymyr Zelensky's remarks regarding Chinese troops in Ukraine, 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," Mr Peskov said. "Zelensky 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.
Watch: Zelensky says more Chinese citizens are serving with Russia's troops in Ukraine
12:48
,
Alex Croft
Mapped: Russia's Donetsk advance slows as Kyiv launches counterattacks
12:32
,
Alex Croft
Boy, 16, among 12 injured in drone attack on Nikopol
12:17
,
Alex Croft
A 16-year-old boy has been left in a serious condition after a Russian drone attack on the city of Nikopol in southern Ukraine.
The attack injured 11 other people, regional governor Serhii Lysak said, and a dormitory and five cars were damaged.
Pictured: Ukrainian troops defend eastern Donetsk front from Russian advances
12:02
,
Alex Croft
Kremlin responds to Chinese troops in Ukraine
11:47
,
Alex Croft
The Kremlin on Thursday dismissed comments by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky 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 Mr Zelensky said Ukrainian intelligence had revealed at least 155 Chinese citizens were fighting for Russia.
After Ukraine, US eyeing Pakistan’s rare minerals
11:31
,
Alex Croft
After Ukraine, the US is looking at Pakistan in its continued hunt for rare minerals, Islamabad announced on Wednesday.
Pakistan has one of the world’s largest copper and gold deposits as well as rich quantities of lithium, a key component in batteries.
In return for past and future military and financial support in the war against Russia, the Donald Trump administration has been asking Ukraine for a deal that would give the US nearly half of the war-torn country’s revenues from critical minerals, oil and gas as well as stakes in key infrastructure like ports through a joint investment fund.
Arpan Rai reports:
Russia releases dual citizen who donated to Ukraine charity in US prisoner swap
11:13
,
Alex Croft
Russia has released a dual citizen who was jailed for donating to a charity providing aid to Ukraine in exchange for a German-Russian citizen accused of exporting US electronics for use in Moscow's military.
Ksenia Karelina, who was found guilty of treason by a Russian court last year for donating money to a US charity providing humanitarian support, is on her way to the US.
Mr Karelina’s lawyer said she was released in a swap with Arthur Petrov, a dual German-Russian citizen arrested in 2023 in Cyprus for exporting sensitive microelectronics.
The Wall Street Journal first reported the news.
Central Intelligence Agency director John Ratcliffe said: "Today, President Trump brought home another wrongfully detained American from Russia. I'm proud of the CIA officers who worked tirelessly to support this effort, and we appreciate the Government of UAE for enabling the exchange."
Moscow accuses Kyiv of striking energy infrastructure 11 times in past day
10:52
,
Alex Croft
Russia's defence ministry has claimed that Ukraine had carried out 11 attacks on energy infrastructure over the past day, the RIA state news agency reported.
This marks an increase from the day before and a violation of a US-brokered moratorium on such strikes, Moscow claimed.
Ukraine and Russia agreed to pause strikes on each other's energy facilities last month, but both sides have repeatedly accused each other of breaking the moratorium.
The Independent was unable to verify the battlefield reports.
US-Ukraine minerals negotiations to begin in Washington on Friday
10:33
,
Alex Croft
The US and Ukraine will begin technical consultations on a minerals deal in Washington on Friday, deputy prime minister Olha Stefanishyna said according to Interfax Ukraine.
They will discuss a new draft agreement from the US, which is more extensive than the one which fell through following Volodymyr Zelensky and Donald Trump’s White House clash on 28 February.
“The new draft agreement from the U.S. shows that the intention to create a fund or jointly invest remains,” Svyrydenko said Saturday, during a trip to northern Ukraine.
The delegation from Kyiv will include representatives from the Ministries of Economy, Foreign Affairs, Justice and Finance, who will hope to bolster the strained relations between Ukraine and the US amid long-running negotiations over a mineral deal.
What to expect at the coalition of the willing meeting today
10:17
,
Alex Croft
The so-called coalition of the willing will be meeting in Brussels today to go over plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine.
At 1pm, defense ministers from around 30 countries will arrive at the Nato headquarters and make statements.
This will be followed by a meeting of the ministers at 2pm.
British and French representatives are looking to drum up support from a number of countries who have appeared reluctant to put troops on the ground, given Washington’s reluctance to back up peacekeeping efforts with its own military.
Full report: More than 150 Chinese mercenaries recruited by Putin fighting against Ukraine, says Zelensky
09:57
,
Alex Croft
About 155 Chinese mercenaries are fighting for the Russian military against Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed.
The Kremlin is recruiting Chinese people via social media – and Beijing knows it, according to Ukrainian intelligence, Mr Zelensky said.
He said Kyiv was trying to assess whether the recruits were receiving instructions from the Chinese government.
In China, officials branded the allegations "totally unfounded".
Jane Dalton reports:
Watch: Kyiv shares battelfield footage in northeastern Kharkiv region
09:40
,
Alex Croft
Another attempt by the occupiers to break through the Ukrainian defenses in the Kupiansk direction failed.
— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) April 9, 2025
The results—2 tanks and 2 IFVs destroyed.
: 429th Achilles Regiment pic.twitter.com/ztB4U8MLwz
King Charles discusses Ukraine and Nato in Italian parliament address
09:26
,
Alex Croft
During his third day of a state visit to Italy, King Charles hailed Rome’s steadfastness in supporting Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.
The state visit has been seen as part of an ongoing effort by London to strengthen ties with its European allies amid global turbulence and rising instability.
"Our countries have both stood by Ukraine in her hour of need and welcomed many thousands of Ukrainians requiring shelter," he told Italian parliamentarians, warning that images of wars were now reverberating again across the continent.
Charles added that Italian and British armed forces "stand side by side" as part of the Nato alliance, noting the two countries' joint plans to develop with Japan a new fighter jet.
“It will generate thousands of jobs in our countries and speaks volumes about the trust we place in each other," he said.
US and Russian delegations arrive in Istanbul for talks
09:10
,
Alex Croft
Washington and Moscow have both sent teams to the Turkish capital of Istanbul, as they continue working towards normalising relations with their diplomatic missions.
The outbreak of the Ukraine war in February 2022 prompted the largest confrontation between Moscow and the West since the Cold War, with diplomatic relations between the US and Russia non-existent.
Several cars were seen entering the Russian consulate building in central Istanbul, according to Reuters footage, with the delegations set to restore the work of each other's missions.
"Ukraine is not, absolutely not on the agenda," state department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said on Tuesday.
"These talks are solely focused on our embassy operations, not on normalizing a bilateral relationship overall, which can only happen, as we've noted, once there is peace between Russia and Ukraine."
The talks will be led by Russia's new ambassador to Washington, Alexander Darchiev, and Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Sonata Coulter, Russia's foreign ministry said.
China warns against 'irresponsible remarks' regarding Chinese fighters in Ukraine
08:49
,
Alex Croft
Beijing has warned Ukraine and its Western allies to refrain from making any irresponsible remarks about Chinese involvement in Russia’s war effort.
Volodymyr Zelensky claimed China was turning a blind eye to Russian recruitment of Chinese citizens via social media, adding that Ukraine’s intelligence shows at least 155 fighting for Russia.
But there has been no indication, or explicit allegations, that the Chinese government has been directly involved in sending troops to Ukraine.
"I would like to reiterate that China is not the initiator of the Ukrainian crisis, nor is China a participating party. We are a firm supporter and active promoter of a peaceful settlement of the crisis," foreign ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said.
"We urge the relevant parties concerned to correctly and soberly understand the role of China and to not release irresponsible remarks," he told a regular news conference, without naming Mr Zelensky or any other officials.
In pictures: Ukrainian firefighters battle vicious blazes after mass Russian drone attack
08:46
,
Alex Croft
What does coalition of the willing meeting seek to achieve - and what are its obstacles?
08:20
,
Alex Croft
With ongoing uncertainty around the extent to which the US will engage in any peacekeeping efforts, the coalition of the willing is a key test of whether Europe is ready to defend itself alone.
Its makeup is so far unclear, and exactly which countries would put troops on the ground on Ukrainian territory has not been clarified.
But leaders in London and Paris have discussed the possibility of force numbering tens of thousands, with around 10,000 to 30,000 the most commonly quoted figure. This is a far-cry short of Volodymyr Zelensky’s earlier suggestion that 200,000 peacekeepers may be needed to secure Ukraine.
The lack of commitment from Washington to actively support peacekeeping efforts has caused some reluctance among European countries to contribute personnel - a reluctance which Britain and France will hope to address at today’s meeting.
'Coalition of the willing' defence ministers to convene at Nato HQ today
07:55
,
Alex Croft
Britain and France will meet with defense ministers from around 30 countries on Thursday as they push forward with ‘coalition of the willing’ peacekeeping plans for Ukraine.
The meeting at Nato headquarters will look to outline steps towards deploying troops to the war-torn country to help police any future ceasefire agreement between Kyiv and Moscow.
It is the first meeting between defense ministers in the coalition, and seeks to flesh out an agreement reached at an earlier meeting in Kyiv last week by senior military officers from Britain and France.
The US will not take part in the discussions - as usual - although leaders in Britain and France have repeatedly emphasised that the success of the peacekeeping operation would depend
