US diplomatic cables released by the whistleblowers' Web site WikiLeaks show that Russian President Dimitry Medvedev, Serbia’s staunch ally, has played a role in slowing down the recognition of Kosovo by Arab states.

In a cable sent by the US embassy in Doha on December 21, 2009, Qatar’s Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Mohamad Al-Rumaihi tells US Ambassador Joseph E. LeBaron that despite their sympathies, they had been asked to by Medvedev to wait before recognising Kosovo.

“The Russian President, however, has asked Qatar to "go slow" in announcing recognition,” the cable says. “Out of sensitivity to Russian concerns, Al-Rumaihi said, Qatar has done so,” it adds.