(Updates with Russia, Britain quotes)

UNITED NATIONS, June 20 (Reuters) Europeans and the United States circulated a UN draft resolution today that paves the way to independence for Kosovo in four months but Russia immediately said it was unacceptable.

The draft, obtained by Reuters, asks for negotiations for another 120 days. But if the talks fail, the resolution would automatically put into effect an independence plan drawn up by UN envoy Martti Ahtisaari ''unless the Security Council expressly decides otherwise after conducting an evaluation.'' Russia, which has veto power on the 15-nation Security Council, still opposes independence for Kosovo, a Serbian province dominated by ethnic Albanians, unless its allies in Belgrade agree.

''It is unacceptable,'' Moscow's UN ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, said of the resolution.

He told reporters that sponsors of the draft now agreed with Russia that more negotiations were necessary. ''However, I am afraid that does not really bring us closer'' because after four months ''Mr. Ahtisaari's proposal will go into force.'' Kosovo, seen by Serbia as a cradle of its culture, passed out of Belgrade's control in 1999 when NATO bombing drove out Serb forces who had killed 10,000 ethnic Albanian civilians in a two-year war with guerrillas.

The province has been under UN administration for almost eight years. If Russia refuses to agree to the plan, the West has to decide whether to go ahead anyway.

Britain's deputy ambassador, Karen Pierce, made clear that was an option.

''I think it's fair to say that one way or another, Kosovo independence is going to be inevitable,'' she said. ''It is much better that that is reached through a managed process, with proper and adequate guarantees for the Kosovo Serb and other minorities in Kosovo.'' OTHER ROUTES FOR KOSOVO Pierce urged Russia to engage in negotiations in the council but said, ''That's not to say other routes are not available if that partnership doesn't work.'' Ahtisaari himself told Finnish YLE television on Monday he believed Russia would veto his plan, but that the province would gain independence this year, even if a solution were crafted outside of the United Nations.

The text asks UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon to institute talks among all the parties. And in an obvious reference to Kosovo Albanians, it ''demands that the parties refrain from making any unilateral declarations regarding final status during that period.'' The draft never uses the word ''independence'' but points to various provisions in the Ahtisaari plan that pave the way for a break with Serbia.

Pierce also warned that ''events on the ground overtake what we might want to do in New York if we don't address the very real concerns'' in Kosovo.

Some diplomats suggest any deal would probably depend on talks between US President George W Bush and Russian President Vladimir Putin at their July 2 meeting in Kennebunkport, Maine.

Under Ahtisaari's plan, a European envoy mandated by the United Nations and the EU would replace the U.N. mission, with power to veto laws and dismiss local officials. The EU would deploy a police mission alongside the current 16,500-strong NATO peace force.

Kosovo would have the right to enter into international agreements and seek membership of international organizations, which could include the United Nations.

But in Pristina, Kosovo Prime Minister Agim Ceku said he saw little point in reopening negotiations with Serbia.

''We concluded talks on the Ahtisaari package,'' he told reporters after talks with the EU's Kosovo envoy, Stefan Lehne. ''We don't have anything to negotiate anymore.'' REUTERS PDS BST0034