Kosovo is an unfortunate victim of Russia’s neo-colonial network of influence across the world. Recognized by just over half of all UN member states, Kosovo has a seat at few negotiating tables and holds little diplomatic power internationally. There is little reason for this. Kosovo’s human rights rap sheet is relatively good, it is relatively free, and its government is competent enough to manage itself within its own borders. Kosovo does not make claims to the de facto territory of another nation. But Kosovo goes unrecognized by almost half of all UN Member States because of Serbia, and by extension, Russia. Serbia, a close ally of Russia, claims Kosovo as part of its territory. By extension, almost all of Russia’s allies and even a number of generally neutral countries toe the line to avoid upsetting Moscow. This includes China, a second member of the UN Security Council. It includes much of Africa and Latin America. Kosovo was founded as a refuge for predominantly Muslim Albanian Serbs fleeing persecution, but Muslim solidarity was not enough to sway Indonesia, Iran, or Algeria. Many countries, including Spain, Azerbaijan, Georgia, and Ukraine fear that granting Kosovo legitimacy would in turn grant legitimacy to their own breakaway regions. The byzantine and consistently hostile ethnic relations in the Balkans prevent Greece from recognizing Kosovo. The deliberate decisions by Spain and Greece to not recognize Kosovo are especially important as they are the only two vocal opponents to Kosovo’s accession to the EU. While Kosovo is a country that undoubtedly struggles, there is no good reason other than racism and ethnocentrism that Kosovo does not deserve independence.