Although unofficial, Hatoyama’s visit to the Ukrainian territory on a Russian entry visa is clearly a move favorable to the Kremlin’s propaganda and was called “grossly imprudent” by Japan’s authorities, Ukraine Today reports.

The former Japanese top official, once branded "The Alien" for his nonconformist views, supported the sham referendum on independence held in Crimea last year after Russia’s territorial grab.

Japan has imposed sanctions on Russia over its invasion of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea and for supporting militants in the east the Ukraine.

See unian.info’s video section for more of the latest news from Ukraine in video from Ukraine Today, Ukraine’s 24-hour English-language news channel.