Russia warned yesterday that the European Union would set a dangerous precedent in international law and harm the authority of the United Nations by recognising Kosovo's independence and sending a security mission to Serbia's break-away province.

"It is quite obvious that such a development would create a serious negative precedent from the point of view of international law," Vladimir Chizhov, Russia's ambassador to the EU, told a news briefing. "It will be seen as a precedent by many people, perhaps far too many people, across the world."