France, Baltic states dismayed after China envoy questions Ukraine sovereignty

France and the Baltic states of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania expressed dismay after China’s ambassador in Paris questioned the sovereignty of former Soviet countries like Ukraine.
Asked about his position on whether Crimea is part of Ukraine or not, Chinese ambassador Lu Shaye said in an interview aired on French television on Friday that historically it was part of Russia and had been offered to Ukraine by former Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev.
Shaye added, “These ex-USSR countries don’t have actual status in international law because there is no international agreement to materialize their sovereign status.”
France responded on Sunday by stating its “full solidarity” with all the allied countries affected, which it said had acquired their independence “after decades of oppression”.
A foreign ministry spokesperson said, “On Ukraine specifically, it was internationally recognized within borders including Crimea in 1991 by the entire international community, including China.”