VALLETTA, Malta, Dec 5: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov visited Malta for the annual meeting of the Organization for Security and Cooperation, marking his first trip to a European Union country since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine nearly three years ago.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha also attended the meeting, which prominently featured Ukraine on the agenda.
Malta’s Foreign Minister Ian Borg stated that Russia’s conflict “continues to pose a systematic threat to European security.”
This visit was significant as it was Lavrov’s inaugural trip to an EU member state since the onset of the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. While it has been uncommon for Lavrov to engage in discussions with senior Western officials, he has recently participated in forums like the United Nations General Assembly and the G20 summit held in Brazil. (Agencies)
