Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Kremlin's opposition to independence for Kosovo is based on international law and a desire for regional stability.
Mr. Putin said during talks with Serbian President Boris Tadic Sunday that Russia's position is not based on what he calls ethnic or historical considerations.
Mr. Tadic repeated Serbia's opposition to an independent Kosovo, but said he is willing to compromise.
Kosovo is an ethnic Albanian majority province of Serbia. The United Nations Security Council is considering a draft resolution that backs a U.N. envoy's plan for supervised independence for the region.
Russia, a traditional Serbian ally, has hinted it would veto the resolution.
Kosovo has been under U.N. supervision since 1999, when NATO airstrikes drove out Serbian and Yugoslav forces waging violence against the ethnic Albanians.
Some information for this report was provided by AFP and Reuters.
