Lavrov set for rare EU visit amid ongoing Ukraine tension
Sergey Lavrov is set to visit an EU country in December. The Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has announced that he will attend a meeting of foreign ministers from the OSCE countries in Malta.
Much of the information disseminated by Russian media and government representatives may not be accurate. These reports could be part of an information war conducted by the Russian Federation.
The meeting in Malta is scheduled for 5th-6th December, Greenwich Time. The pro-Kremlin Russian newspaper "Vedomosti" has reported that the Maltese embassy in Moscow indicated that the decision about the meeting "pertains to all OSCE members, including the Russian Federation."
The newspaper also stated that Maria Zakharova, spokeswoman for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, has announced Lavrov's intention to travel to Malta.
Lavrov to visit an EU country. This is the first such visit
If Lavrov's visit goes ahead, it will mark his first trip to a European Union member state since the onset of Russia's aggression against Ukraine.
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Lavrov faced sanctions from the USA, EU, and United Kingdom, soon followed by Canada, Australia, and Japan. However, as the head of diplomacy, Lavrov retained entry rights into the European Union.
