Many European ministers boycott Lavrov's speech - calling the Russian official a war criminal

Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha demonstratively left the hall before Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov began his speech at the OSCE foreign ministers' meeting in Malta.

During the symbolic act, Sybiha called Lavrov a "war criminal," a statement that reflects the deep tensions between Ukraine and Russia following the start of a full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022.

His departure was followed by a number of other ministers and diplomats who also decided to boycott Lavrov's speech as an act of solidarity with Ukraine and a form of protest against Russian aggression. Among them were the Foreign Minister of Poland, Radosław Sikorski, and the Foreign Minister of the Czech Republic, Jan Lipavsky, who expressed through this action the position of their countries against Russia's actions in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha walked out of the hall before Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov began his speech at the OSCE foreign ministers' meeting in Malta

Before leaving, he called Lavrov a war criminal. Several other foreign ministers and diplomats, including Poland's… pic.twitter.com/Ee3mcEgp9T

- NEXTA (@nexta_tv) December 5, 2024

Beyond this apparent act of non-acceptance, the incident highlighted the deep divisions facing the OSCE, an organization that aims to promote security and cooperation in Europe but has struggled to maintain an effective role in the face of the escalating conflict.

The Malta meeting took place in a tense atmosphere, where many representatives of European countries have repeatedly criticized Russia for violating Ukraine's sovereignty and for suspected war crimes in the occupied territories, writes ukinform.

It was Lavrov's first visit to a European Union country since the start of the full-scale occupation of Ukraine, prompting widespread debate and protests.

His representation in Malta was seen as an attempt to reaffirm Russia's presence in the international arena, despite its diplomatic isolation. However, the mass departures from the hall clearly indicated the position of most European countries, which hold Moscow responsible for one of the continent's worst crises since World War II.

This episode highlights the challenges the OSCE faces in maintaining international dialogue in a climate where political and geostrategic tensions are higher than ever. /Telegraph/