OSCE in Vienna: Russian FM absent, Ukraine demands security guarantees

The OSCE Ministerial Council meeting in Vienna is taking place without Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, despite Moscow lobbying for over a year to secure his invitation, per European Pravda.

Although moving the event to Vienna was expected to simplify entry for the Russian delegation, Lavrov cancelled at the last minute, sending his deputy Alexander Grushko in his place.

Ukraine spoke first at the meeting. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stated that Russia, responsible for war crimes, “has no place at this table.” He highlighted Moscow’s recent defeats in four key international elections and warned that the world does not see Russia as a partner, calling it “the root cause of global problems.”

Sybiha also urged for real security guarantees for Ukraine in any future peace agreement, cautioning against unjust deals that historically led to new catastrophes.

He additionally demanded the release of three OSCE Special Monitoring Mission staff detained in Russian-occupied Donbas in spring 2022, thanking fellow ministers for supporting this call.

Finland’s Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen, whose country currently chairs the OSCE, stressed that the outcome of Russia’s war in Ukraine will shape stability “across the OSCE region and beyond.” She also highlighted the need for deep OSCE reforms based on the “Helsinki+50” discussion proposals.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski delivered a sharp address, declaring that modern Russia “is more aggressive than the USSR in the 1970s,” accusing Moscow of hybrid attacks against Europe, showing images of a Russian military drone violating Polish airspace, and citing a railway sabotage incident. He warned that the OSCE’s halls “should not be a place for the sick ambitions of those seeking to restore an empire of evil.”

The Vienna ministerial has thus become one of the most tense in recent years: Russia participates only formally, while most member states demand OSCE reform, security guarantees for Ukraine, and accountability for violations of the international order.

By Khagan Isayev