Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will visit Malta in December, Kremlin diplomatic spokeswoman Mariya Zakharova said. The politician is to participate in the OSCE Ministerial Council. Lavrov's visit to a European Union country will be his first since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. According to some media outlets, the December meeting may be held in an atmosphere of partial boycott.
Sergei Lavrov plans to visit Malta in December to attend the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Council of Ministers, the independent portal site quoted a statement from the Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Meduza” reported. Circumstances, Maria Zakharova.
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Lavrov's visit to a European Union country will be his first since Russia's invasion of Ukraine began. The politician has been refused participation in similar events in the past, including one in Poland in 2022 and one in North Macedonia, which is not part of the EU but is part of NATO, in 2023. . Lavrov has been under EU sanctions since the Ukraine war broke out in February 2022.
Sergei Lavrov arrives in an EU member state. Controversy surrounding the OSCE Summit
The Unian agency said the December event was likely to take place in a tense atmosphere, although the problems had begun earlier. The Russian government had opposed Estonia's appointment as chairman in 2024, citing NATO membership and accusations of aggression against Ukraine. As a result of the compromise, coordination of the work of the 57 OSCE member states was transferred to Malta.
Lavrov's attendance at such events has been controversial before, with many Western leaders accusing the Russian government of trying to destabilize the OSCE and discouraging him from meeting with Russian politicians. I refused.
According to some media outlets, the December meeting in Malta may be held in an atmosphere of partial boycott by Western diplomats, perhaps as an opportunity to publicly condemn Russia's actions in Ukraine. Will use it.
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