Recognition of breakaway Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Kosovo as independent states is “a violation of international laws and norms,” Ukrainian President Victor Yanukovych said on June 4, as quoted by the Russian news agencies.

“I have never recognized Abkhazia, South Ossetia and Kosovo as independent states,” he said at a news conference. “There are international norms and laws which prohibit infringement of territorial integrity of any state. We have no right to welcome those processes in the world, where violation of territorial integrity of a country is taking place.”