Significant Upcoming Visit to Malta
Reports from the Russian state-controlled outlet, Vedomosti, reveal that Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov plans to visit Malta in December 2024 for a meeting with the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE). If confirmed, this trip will mark Lavrov’s first journey to any European Union (EU) country since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in early 2022.
Historical Context of Lavrov’s Visits
Lavrov’s previous visit to an EU country took place in December 2021, just two months prior to the invasion, when he attended an OSCE ministerial council meeting in Stockholm. In December 2022, nearly a year into the conflict, the OSCE convened in Łódź, Poland, but Warsaw denied Lavrov entry, forcing the meeting to take place in North Macedonia instead. This choice generated backlash from Ukraine, especially over Lavrov’s attendance amid last-minute exemptions to sanctions against Russia.
Temporary Airspace Permissions
In a notable development during Lavrov’s 2023 trip, Bulgaria, an EU member, permitted his plane to traverse its airspace en route to Skopje, North Macedonia. This temporary permission lasted just three hours before and 72 hours after the scheduled flight. Similar allowances were granted by North Macedonia, an EU candidate country. However, the visit was marked by boycotts from Ukraine and the Baltic states—Latvia, Estonia, and Lithuania—demonstrating the tensions surrounding Russia’s diplomatic activities.
Ongoing Sanctions and Diplomatic Complications
Despite extensive sanctions imposed by the EU against Lavrov, President Vladimir Putin, and other figures involved in the war, EU officials have not enacted a travel ban specifically against Lavrov. As Lavrov’s visit to Malta approaches, it is expected to provoke significant discussions and possibly controversy within the European Commission and the Council of the European Union. The situation puts the spotlight on current relations between Russia and the EU member states within the OSCE context.
Awaiting Confirmation and Reactions
As Euronews reaches out for confirmation from the OSCE regarding Lavrov’s visit, the implications of this potential trip weigh heavily in diplomatic arenas. All EU member states actively participate in the OSCE, a security-oriented organization comprising 57 countries across Europe, North America, and Asia. The unfolding developments could lead to heightened scrutiny of the EU’s diplomatic stance toward Russia amidst ongoing tensions stemming from the invasion of Ukraine.
SOURCE: Ref Image from Politico.eu
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