Russian leader Vladimir Putin reiterated that Kosovo’s status should set a universal precedent applicable to the resolution of conflicts in the post-Soviet space.
 
Putin made the remarks at a joint news conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Black Sea resort of Sochi on January 21. 
 

“It seems to me that the problem of the current international relations is ignorance of fundamental principles of the international law. There is increasing desire to solve certain issues and certain problems based on current political reasonability. And this is very dangerous. This leads to the situation in which small states feel insecure,” Putin said.

“Naturally, if in Kosovo we solve the problem in certain way, then this approach, this solution should become universal for similar situations. “If we neglect the principles of territorial integrity of the states and say: ‘Well, what of it, it happened so and there is nothing you can do about it’ and the international community does not want to do anything to restore the territorial integrity of Serbia, other nations also have the right to say: ‘We will also share this approach,'” he added.

“This concerns not only the post-Soviet space, although this is the most well comparable situation. There was collapse of Yugoslavia and here we have collapse of the Soviet Union. There is no difference. But it may also concern to other states as well. It may concern to some of the European states as well. Don’t we know problem of separatism in the European states? There is this problem. No one is interested to undermine foundations of the international stability. And I think there will be grave consequences, if we follow this path. There is a huge temptation, like it was after the World War II – three or four people with pencil in their hands were dividing Europe and the entire world. Now winners in the Cold War, sensing their innocence and strength, want to re-distribute everything on their own. There is a huge temptation. It is very hard to predict the consequences. We offer to think over it jointly. We are ready to cooperate,” Putin said.