The Chinese ambassador to France went wild anger in Eastern Europe and Ukrainewhile drawing a reprimand in Paris after questioning the sovereignty of post-Soviet countries.

Speaking to the LCI news channel on Friday, Ambassador Lu Shaye suggested that the countries that emerged after the fall of the Soviet Union “have no effective status under international law because there is no international agreement confirming their status as sovereign nations”.

Comments cast doubts not only on Ukraine, which Russia invaded last February, but out of all the former Soviet republics that emerged as independent nations after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991including members of the European Union.

Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podoliak He said on Sunday that the status of post-Soviet countries was “enshrined in international law”, while taking issue with Lu’s comments on Crimea, occupied by Russia in 2014.

Asked if Crimea was Ukrainian during his interview with LCI, Lu replied: “It depends on how you look at the issue. There is a story. Crimea was Russian at first.”

“It is strange to hear a nonsensical version of the ‘Crimean story’ from a representative of a country that is scrupulous about its millennial history,” Podolyak said, referring to China.

Baltic foreign ministers Estonia, Lithuania and LatviaAll of the former Soviet republics that joined the EU after independence condemned the comments by Lu, who is part of a new class of outspoken Chinese diplomats.

Latvian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Edgars Rinkevicswrote on Twitter that his views were “completely unacceptable”, while the Estonian Margus Tsahkna he called them “wrong and a misreading of history”.

Don’t trust China

The moment of the controversy is embarrassing for the French president, Emmanuel Macronwho traveled to Beijing this month to encourage the Chinese president, Xi Jinpingto put pressure on the Russian leader, Vladimir Poutineto end its invasion of Ukraine.

Macron’s trip has angered some Western allies who are skeptical of China’s intentions, given Xi’s formal alliance with Russia.

A statement issued Saturday by the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicates that had “learned with dismay the declarations of the Chinese ambassador in France on the borders of the countries which became independent after the fall of the Soviet Union”.

“It’s up to China to say whether these statements reflect their position, which we hope they don’t,” he added.

Lithuanian Foreign Minister Gabrielius Landsbergiswrote on Twitter that “if anyone is still wondering why the Baltic states don’t trust China to ‘medicate peace in Ukraine,’ here is a Chinese ambassador claiming that Crimea is Russian and the borders of our countries are unfounded”.

China tried to portray itself as a neutral party in the Ukrainian conflict and offered a political solution to the conflict which was rejected by Kyiv and its Western supporters.

“If you want to be a major political player, don’t parrot russian foreigners propaganda“, added the Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhaylo Podoliak.

The countries that emerged from the disintegration of the Soviet Union were admitted as sovereign members of the United Nations, and China recognized them at the time.

warrior wolf

Lu has previously admitted to being part of the so-called “wolf warrior” class of Chinese diplomats, a nickname given to those who they respond vehemently to criticism they perceive as anti-China.

In January 2019, he accused The Canada of “white supremacy” for demanding the release of two Canadians detained in China, days after the Huawei executive meng wanzhou was arrested in Canada at the request of the United States.

After taking a new post in Paris, he provokes a new diplomatic conflict in 2021 by calling “little tyrant” and “troll” on Twitter to a critical French researcher.

He also targeted French lawmakers who were considering a trip to Taiwan, which China threatens to take by force.

Summoned by the French Foreign Ministry for his “insults and threats”, he delayed his appearance citing “scheduling problems”.

This caused further irritation in Paris.

“Neither France nor Europe are a doormat”, warned the Minister for European Affairs, Clement Beaune. “When you are summoned as an ambassador, you visit the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”