MOSCOW, February 20 (RIA Novosti) - Russian proposals on Kosovo's status, earlier submitted to the UN Security Council, remain in force, a Foreign Ministry spokesman said on Wednesday.

"Our initiative on the joint development of a 'road map', which would take into account the interests of both sides and priorities of key international mediators in the settlement of the Kosovo issue...remains in force," Mikhail Kamynin said in a statement posted on the ministry's website.

Russia also urges UN Security Council to assume a leading role in the search for a compromise over Kosovo's status, the Russian diplomat said.

Kamynin said the statement on the unilateral declaration of Kosovo's independence, adopted by the EU Council on February 18, was "a set of mutually exclusive theses."

"By proposing that each EU country adopt its own position towards the Kosovo issue, the EU Council has practically launched a 'chain reaction' for illegally recognizing its independence," he said.

Kosovo authorities unilaterally declared independence on February 17. The U.S., Australia, and several leading European countries, including France, Italy and Germany have so far recognized Kosovo, while Russia, China and Spain have condemned the move and refused to acknowledge the breakaway Serbian province.

Last Saturday, the European Union gave its final approval for sending a 1,800-strong civilian and police mission to Kosovo (EULEX) to replace the current UN mission (UNMIK).

Kamynin said the deployment of an EU mission in Kosovo has no legal basis because the issue must be resolved within the framework of the UN.

"Preparations for sending an EU mission are in circumvention of the UN Security Council," Mikhail Kamynin said.

The official spokesman said that by following a unilateral scenario to resolve the Kosovo issue, the European Union acted to the detriment of stability in the Balkans and fueled separatism worldwide.