Russian Foreign Affairs Minister shrugged off during OSCE meeting in Malta

Various Foreign Ministers have shrugged off Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov as the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) conference takes place in Ta’ Qali on Thursday morning (today).  

The OSCE is a regional security-focused intergovernmental organisation with 57 member states from Europe, North America, and Asia and it works on issues such as arms control, conflict prevention and human rights.

Malta is hosting the 31st OSCE Ministerial Council on Thursday 5th and Friday 6th December 2024 as part of its role as the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office for 2024. Its role includes addressing Russia’s war in Ukraine, strengthening cyber resilience, tackling transnational threats, promoting media literacy, and advancing the Women, Peace and Security agenda.

The Foreign ministers had strong feelings towards the Russian Minister, one of Vladimir Putin’s closest confidants, with Polish Foreign Affairs Minister Radoslaw Sikorski telling Times of Malta that he will not be sitting at a table with him.

“Mr Lavrov is coming here to lie about the Russian invasion and what Russia is doing in Ukraine. Russia corrupts every organisation – we need Russia to get out of Ukraine and only then will this organisation make sense,” Mr Sikorski pointed out.

Dutch Foreign Affairs Minister Caspar Veldkamp told journalists on site that he had no intention of shaking hands with Mr Lavrov and wanted to avoid him.

Meanwhile, Czech Republic’s Minister Jan Lipavský had a simple yet direct message for Mr Lavrov: “Get out of Ukraine.”   

In addition, German Minister Annalena Baerbock commented: “We will not allow Putin to bomb our Common Peace Order into dust and ashes, nor will we allow Russia to play its cynical game of undermining the foundational pillars of the OSCE uncommented.”