France, Ukraine and the Baltic states expressed dismay that China’s ambassador in Paris questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet countries such as Ukraine.

Asked about his position on whether Crimea is part of Ukraine or not, Chinese ambassador Lu Shaye said in an interview broadcast yesterday, Friday, by French television, that Crimea is historically part of of Russia and was offered to Ukraine by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

“These countries of the former USSR have no real status in international law because there is no international agreement to implement their sovereign status,” Sage added.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, called, for his part, “unacceptable the statements of the Chinese ambassador in France that questions the sovereignty of the countries that became independent with the end of the Soviet Union in 1991”.

France responded today by expressing its “full solidarity” with all its allied countries, which it stressed had gained their independence “after decades of oppression”.

“Especially for Ukraine, it was internationally recognized within the borders that include Crimea in 1991 by the entire international community, including China,” a foreign ministry spokesman said.

The spokesman added that China should clarify whether these comments reflect its position or not.

The three Baltic countries and Ukraine, formerly part of the Soviet Union, also reacted.

“It’s strange to hear an absurd version of the ‘Crimea story’ from a representative of a country that is very careful about its thousand-year history,” tweeted Mykhailo Podoliak, a senior aide to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

“If you want to be a major political player, don’t parrot Russian propaganda,” he added.