(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-02-14 21:03

MOSCOW - Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the supports for Kosovo's unilateral declaration are "immoral" and "illegal."

Vladimir Putin speaks during an annual question and answer session in the Kremlin in Moscow February 14, 2008. [Agencies]

"Europe has double standards on territory issues and small states do not feel safe in the world arena," he said at his annual and maybe the last press conference before he steps down after the March 2 presidential election.

Putin asked concerned sides to abide by United Nations resolutions and urged the European Union not to take double-standard on the issue.

The marathon conference in Kremlin is attended by nearly 1,400 domestic and foreign journalists and expected to last for three hours.

Russia has strongly opposed the unilateral proclamation of independence by Kosovo, a breakaway Serbian province by a majority of ethnic Albanians.

Kosovo, which has been run by the UN mission since 1999, was expected to unilaterally declare independence after multiple rounds of direct talks failed to resolve its future status before the December 10 deadline set by Europe and the United States.