“I have personally read all the documents of the International Court of Justice on the situation in Kosovo.
I remember very well the decision of the international court, which says that in the exercise of the right to self-determination, a particular territory of any state is not obliged to apply for permission to declare its sovereignty to the central authorities of the country.
This was said about Kosovo, and this is the decision of the international court.
And this decision was supported by everyone.
I personally read all the comments of the legal, administrative, political bodies of the United States, European countries.
Everyone supported this,” Putin said.
If this is so, then the republics of Donbass - the LPR and the DPR - have the same right, without turning to the central authorities of Ukraine, to declare their sovereignty, because the precedent has been created, he added.
Guterres, in turn, reminded Putin that the UN does not recognize Kosovo.
"Yes.
But the court recognized,” the Russian president stressed.
If this precedent is created, then the republics of Donbass could do the same, he noted.
“Kosovo is recognized by many states as an independent state.
We did the same with respect to the republics of Donbass.
After we did this, they turned to us with a request to provide them with military assistance in relation to the state that conducts military operations against them.
We had the right to do this in full compliance with Article 51 of the UN Charter," the Russian President summed up.
On February 21, Vladimir Putin signed decrees on Russia's recognition of the independence of the LPR and DPR.