First EU visit for Russian foreign minister since invasion

Sergei Lavrov, Russia’s Foreign Minister, has traveled to Malta to attend a European security summit, marking his first visit to an EU country since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The summit, organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), has sparked significant controversy due to Lavrov’s participation.

Lavrov’s arrival in Malta for the meeting, which includes foreign ministers from multiple nations, has led to strong reactions. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, who is also attending the OSCE event, walked out of the hall before Lavrov began speaking. This protest was in line with Ukraine’s ongoing stance against Russian participation in the OSCE since the war began.

Lavrov’s presence at the summit has been contentious across Europe. Poland’s foreign minister announced that he would refuse to meet Lavrov during the event, while Sybiga labeled the Russian diplomat a “war criminal,” emphasizing Ukraine’s view of Russia as the primary aggressor in the ongoing conflict. The diplomatic tensions at the event highlighted the deep divisions over Russia’s role in international forums since the invasion of Ukraine.

During his remarks at the summit, Lavrov accused the West of fueling a new Cold War, which he warned was at greater risk of escalating into direct military conflict. His statements painted the West as the instigators of tensions between Russia and NATO, suggesting that the situation was becoming dangerously similar to the Cold War era. In contrast, Sybiga argued that Russia’s participation in the OSCE went against the organization’s core goals of promoting peace and security. He labeled Russia as the biggest threat to regional stability.

US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who was also present at the summit, sharply criticized Russia’s actions. Blinken accused the Russian government of escalating the war in Ukraine and disseminating a “tsunami of misinformation” to justify its aggression. “Let’s not fool ourselves,” Blinken stated, “this is not about Russia’s security; it’s about Mr. Putin’s imperial ambitions to erase Ukraine from the map.” The sharp rhetoric underscored the ongoing rift between the West and Russia over the war.

Despite these tensions, Lavrov and Blinken are not scheduled to meet at the summit, underscoring the lack of direct diplomatic engagement between the two sides since the invasion. Kyiv had previously boycotted last year’s OSCE meeting in North Macedonia due to Lavrov’s attendance and continues to call for Russia’s expulsion from the organization. Several diplomats were seen leaving the hall before Lavrov spoke, reflecting the widespread discomfort with his participation.

Moscow has grown increasingly critical of the OSCE in recent years, particularly accusing the organization of being biased toward the West. The OSCE, established to ease East-West tensions during the Cold War, is a forum for 57 states to discuss European security issues and manage crises. Over time, however, Russia has expressed dissatisfaction with the OSCE, claiming it has become a tool for NATO and the EU’s geopolitical interests. Lavrov himself criticized the organization last year, stating that it had turned into an “appendage” of NATO and the European Union.

In recent years, Russia has taken actions to undermine the OSCE’s effectiveness, including vetoing key decisions and suspending its involvement in the OSCE’s parliamentary assembly earlier this year. Moscow described the assembly as being discriminatory and anti-Russian. At this week’s summit, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova stated that Lavrov would criticize what she called the OSCE’s “institutional crisis” and its increasing alignment with Western interests. She also accused the organization of becoming “Ukrainized.”

Ahead of the meeting, there was also controversy surrounding the visa status of Zakharova, who had planned to accompany Lavrov to Malta. However, the Maltese foreign ministry annulled her visa after three OSCE member countries raised objections. These objections were based on Zakharova’s inclusion on a travel ban list due to her role in Russian policies.

While Lavrov remains under EU sanctions, he has not been subjected to a travel ban, allowing him to attend international meetings such as the OSCE summit. Despite the tensions, Russia continues to use international forums like the OSCE to assert its position on the global stage, even as it faces increasing diplomatic isolation from the West. The OSCE summit in Malta is the latest chapter in the ongoing standoff between Russia and the West, with no immediate signs of resolution to the conflict in Ukraine.

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