In the aftermath of the Kosovo war, analysis has focused mainly on the deficiencies of Western policies. Yet it is Russia that has suffered the real fiasco in Kosovo and in the Balkans as a whole, where its influence and prestige have fallen significantly. Russia missed a number of opportunities to prevent the conflict in Kosovo, which has proven disastrous to its interests. However, the Kosovo crisis also proved that it is worth trying to have Russia on board for as long as possible, and that Russian intransigence can often be overcome through Western persistence. What is usually assumed to be Russia's principled opposition is sometimes more the result of inertia and incompetence. Sometimes it might not be so difficult to persuade Moscow - still basically opportunistic and lacking a clear vision of its own long-term interests - to behave more constructively.