Defense Secretary Robert Gates on Tuesday said the U.S. is committed to keeping troops in Kosovo through late next year despite strong Russian opposition to creation of the world's newest country this year.

Following a morning visit to Kosovo, Gates flew here to this lakeside resort in Macedonia, a neighbor that has yet to recognize Kosovo's independence. But Kosovo's president told reporters during a news conference with Gates that he was optimistic that Macedonia and Montenegro would join the nearly 50 nations that have recognized his country.

Russia takes the part of its traditional ally Serbia in opposing creation of Kosovo from what was formerly Serb-claimed territory. Like several other countries with separatist troubles of their own, Russia also worries that the Kosovo example will encourage resistance movements in breakaway regions.

Russian anger over U.S. support for Kosovo was one of several irritants between Washington and Moscow even before the chill brought on by Russia's invasion of U.S.-backed Georgia in August.

Gates and other U.S. officals say Kosovo's sovereignty is not negotiable and that U.S. backing for it is not intended as a slight to Russia.

Gates has urged calm in the wake of the brief Russia-Georgia war that enraged Europe and the U.S. A Russia expert who formerly led the CIA, Gates has said Moscow is not seeking global dominance, but instead is looking to "exorcise past humiliations" and recapture its glory days.

On Wednesday, Gates will meet with defense ministers from southeastern Europe, and tensions with Russia are likely to be one of the topics. He will then travel to Hungary for a meeting of NATO defense chiefs.

Gates met with the president and prime minister of Kosovo before traveling to Camp Bondsteel, where he lunched with some of the 1,600 U.S. troops in Kosovo and toured the medical facilities. Gates said the leaders talked about maintaining the current troop levels, and he said the U.S. was focused on providing services, equipment and training for the new ministry and the Kosovo security forces.

Gates added that there also was funding in the Pentagon's 2009 budget for military education and training programs for Kosovo, although he was not sure what specifically would be provided for Kosovo.

He added that the U.S. looks "forward to the day when peace is self-sustaining."

Gates' visit marked the first time a U.S. Cabinet member has been to Kosovo since the country declared its independence in February. And it underscored the escalating tensions between NATO allies and Moscow as Eastern European nations increasingly look to the West.

Kosovo has received recognition from more than 45 countries, including the U.S. and most EU nations. But Kosovo authorities have no control over about 15 percent of its territory where about 200,000 Serbs live. Serbia has been trying to form its own leadership in those areas, despite opposition from Kosovo's U.N. and EU administrators.

Kosovo President Fatmir Sejdiu said that although he wants to double the number of nations that have recognized Kosovo, he believes that other countries, including Macedonia and Montenegro, have given him "positive signals."

Earlier, Gates said his main goal on this trip was to meet with U.S. troops serving in Kosovo as part of coalition of more than 30 nations, with a force of roughly 15,000. Continued...