Putin: Right to recognise Donbas republics same as how Kosovo got recognition

"When Kosovo declared independence, the International Court of Justice, under pressure from Western countries, ruled that according to the UN Charter, when a country declares independence, there is no need to seek permission from the central government," Putin said, according to Kossev.

“This means that the republics of Donbas did not have to ask Kyiv for permission,” he added.

Confirming that the Luhansk and Donetsk People's Republics had declared their independence, Putin pointed out that Russia had the right to recognize them as such.

Putin argued that Western countries have started large-scale wars and gave the examples of Libya which he said "is unable to regain its statehood", while Iraq is "practically devastated", and the war in Afghanistan lasted for "decades".

"But the thing is that such situations developed the way they wanted, not the way they should. In many cases, for example in Yugoslavia - the country was torn apart. After our country ceased to exist, new countries emerged, as well as new interests, there were a lot of internal contradictions and they encouraged them. Then they started to tear Kosovo away from Serbia. It is also not clear why,” Putin said.