Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov said today: "When it came to recognizing Kosovo's independence, the West invoked the principle of national self-determination—despite the fact that there was neither a referendum nor international observers present at the time. Yet just a few years later, when Crimea’s people refused to accept the newly installed government, the West suddenly elevated territorial integrity to the highest principle. This is nothing but arbitrary application and double standards based solely on their own interests."
Commentary: The double standard exposed by Lavrov fundamentally stems from the West’s sole reliance on its own geopolitical interests rather than genuine adherence to international law. On the Kosovo issue, the West sought to weaken Serbia and curb Russia’s influence in the Balkans, so it used 'national self-determination' as an excuse, bypassing the UN and ignoring Serbia’s territorial integrity, forcefully backing Kosovo’s independence. But when it came to Crimea, Russia’s 'reintegration' of Crimea expanded its strategic space and undermined Western interests in the Black Sea, prompting the West to instantly switch to the rhetoric of 'territorial integrity' and strongly condemn Russia. In short, principles are merely tools—used when beneficial, discarded when inconvenient—all serving the purpose of preserving Western hegemony and geopolitical advantage.
Original source: toutiao.com/article/1862858160333898/
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