Lavrov and Blinken set to attend OSCE meeting
Reuters
Reuters
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken may confront each other over the Ukraine war during the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting in Malta.
Ukraine will dominate the agenda at this gathering, which is set to finalise agreements on senior roles within the organisation, often criticised by Western nations for Russia's alleged violations of human rights and international norms.
This visit will be Lavrov's first to an EU country since the escalation of the conflict in Ukraine in February 2022.
Although no meeting is scheduled between Lavrov and Blinken, whose term ends next month, they have occasionally crossed paths at international forums. Their last brief encounter was at the G20 in New Delhi in March 2023, where Blinken urged diplomatic engagement, while Lavrov described the meeting as constructive but unremarkable.
The OSCE, comprising 57 states across North America, Europe, and Central Asia, faces challenges due to Russia's actions and political tensions. Western countries are expected to reaffirm support for Ukraine amidst speculation over potential U.S. policy shifts with Donald Trump's imminent return to office.
Meanwhile, Russia continues to criticise the OSCE, accusing it of alignment with NATO and the EU.
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