Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov traveled to Malta to participate in the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) Ministerial Meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry announced on its Telegram channel on Dec. 5.
This marks Lavrov's first visit to an EU country since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is also visiting Malta to address the plenary session of the OSCE meeting. Ukraine's chief diplomat left the hall before the start of Lavrov's speech, calling him a "war criminal." Several other foreign ministers and diplomats joined Sybiha in the walkout.
Lavrov last visited an EU nation in 2021 for the OSCE meeting in Stockholm. He attended the U.N. General Assembly in New York multiple times during the war.
Despite being under EU sanctions, which include a travel ban, exceptions can be made for attendance at international meetings within EU territory.
The visit came amid controversy after Malta canceled a visa for Maria Zakharova, the official spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, citing "circumstances beyond their control," according to Zakharova.
According to Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, Sybiha is set to hold bilateral talks with counterparts from partner countries, focusing on the consequences of Russian aggression and advocating for a comprehensive and just peace based on Ukraine’s peace formula.
Martin Fornusek
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