In a significant diplomatic move, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has arrived in Malta to participate in a European security summit, marking his first trip to an EU member state since the onset of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
The summit, organized by the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), has already seen tensions rise, particularly with the presence of Lavrov. His Ukrainian counterpart, Andriy Sybiga, who is also in attendance, chose to walk out of the hall shortly before Lavrov began his remarks, signaling the heightened stakes of the ongoing conflict.
Lavrov’s participation has sparked controversy, with Poland’s foreign minister notably declining to engage in any meetings with him, reflecting the continuing divisions within Europe over Russia’s actions in Ukraine. The summit continues as leaders grapple with security concerns in the region amidst the ongoing crisis.