The deadline for all talks on the future status of Kosovo has expired, and majority Albanian leaders said Monday they plan to launch talks leading to the province's independence and international recognition "very, very soon."

"December 10 marks the end of all negotiations for the status of Kosovo ... (and it) triggers substantial talks regarding declaration (of independence) and formal recognition," spokesman Skender Hyseni said after the negotiating team met in Pristina.

The four-month talks imposed on Pristina and Belgrade by the big powers expired without the two sides moving any way toward a mutually acceptable solution for the future status of Kosovo.

The Albanians, who make up 90 per cent of Kosovo's population, now expect independence quickly, as their leaders are counting on support from the Western powers.

"For the coming days, we plan intense talks with Washington and Brussels to coordinate the most important steps," Hyseni told reporters in Pristina.

"The first step inevitably is the declaration of independence and the second is formal recognition ... we can assure you that independence will be declared before May," he said.

The new Kosovo government is yet to be formed after Hashim Thaci's opposition Democratic Party of Kosovo won the most votes in November 17 elections.

At the same time in Belgrade, Prime Minister Vojislav Kostunica has delayed presidential elections, saying it would be a distraction in the struggle to keep Kosovo Serbian, even if only formally.

It is believed that a declaration of independence by Kosovo could be delayed until after the elections in Serbia take place, presuming they are scheduled in short order.

The poll must be scheduled by December 31 unless a law delaying it yet again is adopted.

Serbia's bid to block Kosovo's independence is strongly backed by Russia, which last summer already shot down a plan to release the province to internationally supervised independence through the UN.

With the Russian veto looming over any moves for independence in the UN, Kosovo's leaders have resigned themselves to a unilateral declaration which would be recognized by the Western powers.

The United States and most EU countries, including the largest, have expressed support for Kosovan independence.

"We are prepared to follow a very clear roadmap with our Western partners, but are not ready to subjugate our interests by waiting with the declaration of independence until the Serbian presidential election," Hyseni said.

"We will also not necessarily wait for the unanimous position of the 27 EU countries," he said, adding that only Cyprus remained in firm opposition to Kosovo's independence among European countries.

Kosovo's leadership "isn't going to wait for too long," Hyseni said, adding: "I can't say when it will happen, because we don't have a date yet, but pretty soon. Very, very soon."

Meanwhile, British Foreign Secretary David Miliband said European countries must "take a lead" in the Kosovo conflict and increase troop levels if necessary to prevent a repeat of the bloodshed that marked the collapse of the former Yugoslavia.

Speaking before attending a meeting of European Union (EU) foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss the current crisis, Miliband said Europe could not stand by and watch growing tensions.

"We face a very stark choice. Why did we end up in the mid-1990s with the terrible tragedies of Bosnia? We ended up there because Europe stood on the sidelines wringing its hands and hoping something would turn up," Miliband said in a BBC interview.

The way to avoid that sort of bloodshed and strife is for European countries to take a lead, he said.

"This is Europe's backyard. If we ignore the problem, we are not going to solve it. If we pretend there is only a military solution, we won't solve it. If we (deal) with political, economic, social and security issues, we can make a difference there, recognizing the legitimate aspirations of Kosovars," Miliband said.

He acknowledged that this might mean additional European troops on the ground in Kosovo, to bolster the 16,000-strong NATO force already committed.

Asked if Britain was prepared to recognize a Kosovo that declared independence from Serbia, Miliband replied, "The short answer to that is yes."

But he added, "In the Balkans, it is important to avoid short answers and recognize it is a very complicated situation."