The Kosovo War provides a background for understanding the international status of the Republic of Kosovo. Before the breakup of Yugoslavia following the end of the Cold War, Kosovo was a very cosmopolitan city with a large population of ethnic Albanians and ethnic Serbs. After Yugoslavia collapsed, however, violence spread throughout the region, resulting in thousands of civilian deaths, the vast majority of them occurring among Albanian Kosovars. In 2008 Kosovo declared itself an independent republic, effectively breaking away from Serbia. Although not all of Kosovo’s fellow states recognize the republic’s independence, most—including the United Sates—do.