David Cameron has joined the growing number of voices condemning Scotland's First Minister for disclosing he admired Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The Prime Minister claimed Alex Salmond had made a "major error of judgment" after the Scottish National Party leader told an interview he admires "certain aspects" of Mr Putin, including how he had restored part of Russian pride.

Mr Salmond added he does not approve of a range of Russian actions.

Speaking during Prime Minister's Questions, Labour's Shelia Gilmore (Edinburgh East) told Mr Cameron: "Yesterday Ukrainians in Scotland wrote to Alex Salmond expressing disgust and astonishment at the First Minister's statement that he admired president Putin.

"Will you support the statements of the Scottish Ukrainian community and Labour in condemning those statements, which support a regime which oppresses its own minority groups and silences its critics?"

Cameron replied: "I agree wholeheartedly with you. I think what Alex Salmond said was a major error of judgement.

"I think all of us in this House should be supporting the Ukrainian desire to be a sovereign, independent country and to have the respect of the international community and party leaders for that ambition."

Mr Salmond made the comments in an interview with Alastair Campbell, the former Labour strategy director, on March 14 as Russia was being accused of military aggression over the future of Crimea, which it has since annexed, in neighbouring Ukraine.

The remarks are included as a part of a wider interview set to be published in GQ magazine on May 1.

Asked about Mr Putin, Mr Salmond said: "Well, obviously, I don't approve of a range of Russian actions, but I think Putin's more effective than the press he gets, I would have thought, and you can see why he carries support in Russia."

Pressed on whether he admires the Russian leader, the First Minister said: "Certain aspects. He's restored a substantial part of Russian pride and that must be a good thing.

"There are aspects of Russian constitutionality and the inter-mesh with business and politics that are obviously difficult to admire. Russians are fantastic people, incidentally, they are lovely people."

A spokesman for the First Minister later accused Tory, Labour and Lib Dem politicians of "cosying up" to Russia in recent months to persuade them to oppose Scottish independence.

He said: "The Scottish Government is entirely opposed to the Russian government's stance on human rights, homosexuality and indeed the illegal annexation of Crimea."

Earlier today Treasury Secretary Danny Alexander said Salmond's qualified praise for Russian president Vladimir Putin puts him at odds with mainstream thinking among European leaders.

The senior Liberal Democrat MP said the Scottish First Minister's comments, which emerged at the weekend, raise questions about his judgment.

Speaking at the Scotland Office in Edinburgh, he said: "If Alex Salmond had been the leader of an independent EU member state, which is what he wants to be, and had made those comments, they would be completely at odds with the views expressed by every other European government.

"I think it would put Scotland in a pretty difficult position.

"The main issue is that clearly a lot of offence has been caused to an important community here in Edinburgh and that has to be addressed."

Mr Alexander was at a security council meeting when he learned of the reaction from Ukrainian community in Scotland yesterday.

Michael Ostapko, of the Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain, said Mr Salmond should apologise.

"As the elected representative of the Ukrainian diaspora in Scotland, I have been overwhelmed by the reaction of the Ukrainians in Scotland to his comments," he said.

"They are variously insulted, dismayed and upset that a high-profile politician aspiring to some favoured position in the history of these freedom-loving isles should make poorly considered, erroneous and mistaken assessments, and to express admiration of a dictatorial and criminal regime."

Mr Salmond offered his view on March 14 as Russia was being accused of military aggression over the future of Crimea, which it has since annexed, in neighbouring Ukraine.

A spokesman for the First Minister, responding to Mr Ostapko yesterday, said: "The Scottish Government is entirely opposed to the Russian government's stance on human rights, homosexuality and indeed the illegal annexation of Crimea.

"Since this interview was conducted the Scottish Government has made our position abundantly clear on the illegal annexation, including the decision to withdraw the invitation to the Russian consul general to the annual Scottish Consular Corps dinner.

"Indeed, the Cabinet Secretary for Culture and External Affairs met with the new Russian consul on March 13 to make clear the Scottish Government's condemnation of Russia's actions on human rights and homosexuality.

"The Scottish Government has a firm and enduring belief there is no place for prejudice or discrimination - in Scotland or any other part of the world - and we strongly condemn human rights abuses wherever they take place."