When did Kosovo gain independence, and from whom?
Kosovo, officially the Republic of Kosovo, was proclaimed an independent state on 17 February 2008, separating itself from Serbia after a meeting that saw 109 out of 120 members of the Assembly of Kosovo adopt the state's sovereignty. In its declaration, it committed to fulfilling several obligations under the Ahtisaari Plan, which included embracing ethnicity as a principle of good governance and welcoming a period of internal supervision. This followed an earlier declaration in 1991 that saw Kosovo declare itself a pro-state in Southeastern Europe, called the First Republic of Kosovo. To date, several countries have recognized the sovereignty of the state, including the US, Japan, Canada, and a majority of European states. 