Serbia, Russia Blast Kosovo Independence

Serbian and Russian leaders today lambasted Kosovo's imminent declaration of independence from Serbia, the Guardian reports. Serbian Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica declared the move illegal, and said his government won't cooperate with European efforts to keep Kosovo running. Russian President Vladimir Putin blasted as "immoral and illegal" Western nations' plans to recognize the province's independence.

Putin’s words came ahead of a UN Security Council meeting on the matter, though Kosovo’s prime minister claims “the Kosovo issue has already left the security council building." The move is expected to be made official Sunday; the UK, France, Germany, and the Netherlands would soon thereafter recognize Kosovo as an independent country, with the US shortly following. (More Vladimir Putin stories.)