Live-blogging the Security Council

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The lounge outside the U.N. Security Council chamber is bustling with cameramen and beefy security personnel. The Council is scheduled to hold a closed door meeting on Kosovo this afternoon, and top Serbian and Kosovar diplomats are in town to plead their case. Russia is signaling that it's ready to draw a hard line. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov—an old Council hand himself—hinted yesterday that independence for Kosovo would have serious ramifications on other issues:

A unilateral declaration of independence by Kosovo and illegal recognition of this independence will definitely have consequences because I'm sure it will trigger a chain reaction in the Balkans and other regions. And those who nurture such plans should be fully aware of their responsibility for such consequences.

A key issue the Council will consider is whether new U.N. authorization is needed for a planned EU stability mission to the province. Russia says yes; most of the EU says no. Stay tuned...