Lavrov to Attend OSCE Meeting in Malta Amid EU-Russia Tensions

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is planning his first visit to an EU country since the Ukraine conflict began in February 2022, as he attends a Ministerial Council of the OSCE in Malta. The Malta Embassy confirmed the event details and preparations are underway for the meeting on December 5-6.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is scheduled to attend the upcoming Ministerial Council meeting of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) in Malta this December. This visit marks Lavrov's first trip to a European Union country since the onset of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022, according to a report in Vedomosti citing Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.

The Maltese Embassy in Russia has confirmed to Vedomosti that the decision to host the OSCE meeting on December 5-6 applies to all member states, including the Russian Federation. As part of the preparations, OSCE delegations are receiving regular updates, with additional practical details and invitations set to be provided in due course.

The Malta meeting will be a significant occasion as it sees a high-profile Russian official visiting the EU amid ongoing tensions over Russia's military actions in Ukraine. The discussions and collaborations in this meeting could potentially influence future diplomatic relations between the OSCE members.

(With inputs from agencies.)