Kosovo celebrates 16th anniversary of its independence from Serbia this Saturday, February 17.

Europe’s youngest country, which unilaterally declared independence from Serbia in 2008, has been held back in its quest to join the UN, the EU and other international organisations as it has not yet secured recognition from all states.

Serbia refuses to recognise Kosovo as independent — in fact it has been actively lobbying states to de-recognise Kosovo — and has relied on its old ally Russia to keep Kosovo out of the UN. However, as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine radically changed the geopolitical landscape of Europe last year, there is fresh pressure from the EU and US on both sides to reach a compromise.