Tokayev called DPR and LPR quasi-states

President of Kazakhstan Kassym-Zhomart Tokayev speaks at the plenary session of the 25th St. Petersburg International Economic ForumSt. Jun 17The President of Kazakhstan, Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, said that the republic does not recognize the LPR and DPR, since the widespread application of the principle of nations for self-determination can lead to chaos. «It is estimated that if the right of nations to self-determination is actually realized on the globe, then instead of which are now part of the UN, more than 500 or 600 states are emerging on Earth. Of course, it will be chaos. For this reason, we do not recognize Taiwan, Kosovo, South Ossetia, or Abkhazia. And, apparently, this the principle will also be applied to quasi-state territories, which, in our opinion, are Lugansk and Donetsk,” he said at the plenary session of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF), answering a question from moderator Margarita Simonyan.17:02About the principles of Russia's development and the mistakes of the West. Putin spoke at the SPIEF Speaking about the attitude towards the situation in Ukraine in Kazakhstan, Tokayev said that «opinions are different.» «Our society is open, the maturity of civil society is evident, so different opinions are expressed,» he noted. The President of Kazakhstan recalled that modern international law is the UN charter. «But two UN principles have come into conflict — the integrity of the state and the right of nations to self-determination … And as soon as these principles contradict each other, there are different interpretations,» Tokayev said. Russia has been conducting a military operation in Ukraine since February 24. As Vladimir Putin stated, its goal is «to protect people who have been subjected to bullying and genocide by the Kyiv regime for eight years.» According to the Ministry of Defense, the Russian army has already completed the main tasks of the first stage — significantly reduced the combat potential of Ukraine. The main goal of the operation in the department was called the liberation of Donbass.