The United Nations recently shelved a resolution on Kosovo's independence, as Russia – who is a close ally of Serbia – threatened to use its veto power at the Security Council. Kosovo has been under U.N. leadership since 1999 when Serbian forces were expelled after a NATO led campaign to halt two-years of ethnic conflict. Serbia is widely alleged to be harboring fugitives of war crimes, though it has recently disposed of several top suspects. Mladic, however, is viewed as a hero among far right supporters and is believed to be hiding in Russia.
Serbia has recently proposed an autonomous non-sovereign Kosovo province with “the broadest possible self-governance for the province's Albanians.” Many Serbians view Kosovo as their spiritual homeland and oppose an independent Kosovo comprised of ethnic Albanians.