Ukraine war briefing: Germany calls reports Russian soldiers are being trained in China ‘deeply disturbing’

What Happened

The German Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador following reports from Die Welt that the Chinese People’s Liberation Army allegedly trained Russian soldiers for deployment in Ukraine. Separately, the Russian Ministry of Defence claimed full control of Kostiantynivka in the Donetsk region, a statement currently lacking independent verification. Additionally, a Russian glide bomb strike in Sumy killed at least four people, including one child, and injured 27, according to regional governor Oleh Hryhorov.

Key Actors

Why It Matters

The reported military cooperation between China and Russia, if verified, represents a significant escalation in external support for the Russian invasion. Simultaneously, the potential shift in Lithuania's nuclear policy and the ongoing territorial losses in the Donetsk region underscore the intensifying security pressures on NATO's eastern flank and the frontline stability in Ukraine.

Watch For

Monitor the outcome of the Lithuanian parliamentary vote on the constitutional amendment regarding nuclear weapons deployment and any further diplomatic fallout between Berlin and Beijing regarding the alleged training of Russian personnel.