Russia's Sergei Lavrov makes first visit to EU since Ukraine invasion

Sergei Lavrov is in Malta for a two-day summit of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe.

British Broadcasting CorporationWatch LiveHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveHomeNewsIsrael-Gaza WarWar in UkraineUS & CanadaUKUK PoliticsEnglandN. IrelandN. Ireland PoliticsScotlandScotland PoliticsWalesWales PoliticsAfricaAsiaChinaIndiaAustraliaEuropeLatin AmericaMiddle EastIn PicturesBBC InDepthBBC VerifySportBusinessExecutive LoungeTechnology of BusinessFuture of BusinessInnovationTechnologyScience & HealthArtificial IntelligenceAI v the MindCultureFilm & TVMusicArt & DesignStyleBooksEntertainment NewsArtsArts in MotionTravelDestinationsAfricaAntarcticaAsiaAustralia and PacificCaribbean & BermudaCentral AmericaEuropeMiddle EastNorth AmericaSouth AmericaWorld’s TableCulture & ExperiencesAdventuresThe SpeciaListEarthNatural WondersWeather & ScienceClimate SolutionsSustainable BusinessGreen LivingVideoLiveLive NewsLive SportHomeNewsSportBusinessInnovationCultureArtsTravelEarthVideoLiveAudioWeatherNewslettersFirst EU visit for Russian foreign minister since invasionGetty ImagesSergei Lavrov was sanctioned by the EU following Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022Russia's Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov has travelled to Malta for a European security summit, marking his first visit to an EU state since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

His Ukrainian counterpart Andriy Sybiga, who is also attending the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting, walked out of the hall ahead of Lavrov's remarks, according to the country's foreign ministry.

Lavrov's attendance has proved controversial, with Poland's foreign minister refusing to meet him and Sybiga branding the diplomat a "war criminal".

The Russian foreign minister accused the West of fuelling a new Cold War "with a much greater risk of a transition to a hot one".

Sybiga said Russia's involvement in the OSCE was contrary to the organisation's aims, describing it as the "biggest threat to our common security".

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr247pvlxxo

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