We couldn't confirm that ***@gmail.com belongs to you.

Hello,

I am currently in China. I want to log into my Gmail account. Since Google is banned in China, I'm using a VPN.

Anyway, I enter my Gmail address, I enter my password, and then I get a message saying:
"Confirm it’s really you
This device is not recognized. For your safety, Google wants to ensure it’s really you."

I’m offered to use my French phone. Unfortunately, in France, I only have a Free plan for €2 that doesn’t work here.

So I choose the "get help" option.
I’m asked to enter the last password I remember, okay.
I’m asked to answer the security question, okay.
I’m asked when I created this Google account (month and year), it's been about 10 years, I don’t remember, I put an approximate date but it must be wrong.
I’m asked to provide an email address to send a verification code, I give my Hotmail address, I receive the code and enter it correctly.

In the end, I am told:
Unable to log in
Thank you for confirming your email address.
We could not verify that ***@gmail.com belongs to you.

I've been trying to get in for 3 days without success. Additionally, since then, Gmail has also blocked my emails that I was receiving on my mobile phone. So I have no way to use my Gmail account even though I seriously need it.

Does anyone have a solution?
Can we contact someone at Google?
I am desperate.

Thank you in advance
Nathan