Baltic and Ukrainian Diplomats Boycott OSCE Talks Due to Russian Foreign Minister's Presence

The foreign ministers of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine have announced their boycott of an Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting in North Macedonia due to the participation of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov. They argue that Lavrov's presence will provide Russia with a propaganda opportunity and accuse Russia of coercing and undermining the OSCE. The Russian delegation plans to emphasize the return of the OSCE to its original principles and purpose. Lavrov's visit to a NATO member country since the invasion of Ukraine in 2022 is seen as significant.