US Ambassador Zalmay Khalilzad has said the consultations are one of the last attempts to adopt a resolution on Kosovo which has had five drafts so far due to Russia's continued objections to independence for Kosovo and veto threats.
The latest draft resolution envisages 120 days for additional Belgrade-Pristina negotiations, after which the UN would cede administration over Kosovo to the European Union while retaining NATO troops, US media have said.
The draft does not envisage automatic independence for Kosovo if the new Belgrade-Pristina negotiations on the province's status fail, but the adoption of the resolution would put out of force Resolution 1244 from 1999, which Russia objects to.
Khalilzad has said the latest draft is supported by all Security Council members but Russia and that if it continues to object, Moscow will be responsible for moving the Kosovo issue out of the UN Security Council's jurisdiction.
The Russian ambassador to the UN, Vitaly Churkin, confirmed before today's debate that Moscow remained against the draft resolution.
US State Secretary Condoleezza Rice said today that Kosovo would gain independence one way or another, regardless of Russia's objections. She told the press the US was absolutely committed to Kosovo becoming independent of Serbia, said Reuters.
Security Council members are concerned that Kosovo might proclaim independence on its own.