Russia-Ukraine war: France, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania criticize Chinese envoy over sovereignty comments

The Chinese ambassador to France came under fire from Paris and Ukraine, as well as Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania, for remarks over Ukraine’s sovereignty and those of former Soviet Union countries. Paris has since called for China to clarify the remarks.

The Chinese ambassador to Paris, Lu Shaye, was subject to criticism following remarks during an interview on French television Friday last week questioning the sovereignty of Ukraine and former USSR countries. In the interview, Lu was questioned on whether the Crimean peninsula is part of Russia, which Lu said it was and that it was offered to Ukraine by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.

“These ex-USSR countries don’t have actual status in international law because there is no international agreement to materialize their sovereign status,” said Lu.

France responded to Lu’s remarks on Sunday, saying it supports all the allied countries affected under Soviet rule. Paris said those countries were able to get their independence “after decades of oppression.” A spokesperson for the foreign ministry said that the international community, including China itself, in 1991, already recognized Crimea as part of Ukraine. The spokesperson also said that Beijing would have to clarify whether Lu’s remarks reflect their position.

The three Baltic countries and Ukraine also echoed France’s reaction.

“It is strange to hear an absurd version of the ‘history of Crimea’ from a representative of a country that is scrupulous about its thousand-year history,” said Ukrainian presidential aide Mykhailo Podolyak. “If you want to be a major political player, do not parrot the propaganda of Russian outsiders.”

Meanwhile, the fighting continues in the key city of Bakhmut as Moscow looks to make territorial gains after losing significant amounts of Ukrainian territory during a counterattack by pro-Kyiv forces last year. The British defense ministry said in its intelligence bulletin on Monday that civilians that are still in the occupied areas of Ukraine are being forced to accept Russian passports as Russia tries to reinforce its annexation claims on the territories.

The ministry said that residents of occupied Kherson are given a deadline of June 1 to accept the Russian passports or else they will be “deported” and lose their property. The ministry said that this was an effort to enforce “Russification” by Moscow in the occupied Ukrainian territories.