Russia

The world's largest regional security group opened its Skopje summit Thursday with Russia and Ukraine's allies in open conflict, rattling the organization that is intended as a forum for East-West blocs.The Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) has been struggling to survive with Russia blocking key decisions, including the group's budget.Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov's attendance at the Skopje gathering this week sparked a boycott from Ukraine and key allies.Russia's 21-month-old invasion of Ukraine came in for fierce criticism ahead of Lavrov's speech at the summit."Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine flies in the face of all this organization holds dear," said Bujar Osmani, North Macedonia's foreign affairs minister and OSCE chairman in office, during opening remarks as the summit kicked off."The war undermines trust, dialogue, and our capacity to deliver," he added.Lavrov fired back, saying the OSCE was becoming an "appendage" of the NATO alliance and the European Union."The organization, let's face it, is on the edge of a precipice.

A simple question arises: does it make sense to invest in its revitalization?" said Lavrov, who immediately left the session after delivering his remarks.The Russian foreign minister was set to hold a separate press conference on the sidelines of the summit on Friday.Created in 1975 as a forum for dialogue between the Eastern and Western blocs, the OSCE has been struggling to operate as Russia's war in Ukraine has unleashed a torrent of tension in the organization.Earlier this week, Ukraine, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Lithuania announced that they would boycott the annual ministerial conference, with Warsaw saying Russia's presence was "unacceptable."Ukraine wants the OSCE to expel Russia, as the Council of Europe has done, warning the body faced a "slow death" if Moscow remains a member."We just cannot ignore the fact that the Russian minister of foreign affairs will be present at the table of the organization that is supposed to build peace and security in Europe," Polish Foreign Minister Szymon Szynkowski vel Sek told reporters on Wednesday.U.S.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who joined Wednesday's pre-summit dinner with representatives of other OSCE states, was not in attendance on Thursday.Late on Wednesday, the European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, said he understood the unease of some states but welcomed the decision by North Macedonia to allow Lavrov to participate, saying it aligned with the "common objective of keeping multilateralism alive.""It will be a good occasion for him (Lavrov) to listen directly from the participants at this meeting why Russia is being condemned and isolated," he told reporters.After months of negotiations, Malta on Monday agreed to take over the organization's rotating presidency next year, replacing NATO member Estonia — who the Kremlin openly rejected.The decision is expected to be ratified during the two-day ministerial meeting.Ahead of the summit, Russia accused Western countries of trying to prevent its officials from attending the meeting."We see attempts by part of the West to do everything possible to hinder our country's normal participation at this meeting," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.She accused some countries — without naming them — of threatening "the very existence of the organization, just to satisfy their ambitions."Russia's repeated criticism has fuelled speculation it could decide to pull out of the OSCE altogether, cutting another fragile line of communication with the West.The OSCE has issued several reports on possible war crimes and crimes against humanity allegedly committed by Russian Armed Forces during their full-scale invasion of Ukraine.





Unlimited Portal Access + Monthly Magazine - 12 issues-Publication from Jan 2021


Buy Our Merchandise (Peace Series)

 


Contribute US to Start Broadcasting



It's Voluntary! Take care of your Family, Friends and People around You First and later think about us. Its Fine if you dont wish to contribute and if you wish to contribute then think about the Homeless first and Feed them. We can survive with your wishes too :-). You can Buy our Merchandise too which are of the finest quality.


STRIPE


[Russia] - Putin Makes Overtures to North Korea, Vietnam in Bid to Intimidate Ukraine's Allies


[Russia] - Russia Sentences Ukrainian Woman to 12 Years for Balloon Protest


[Russia] - Germany Arrests 3 Men Suspected of Spying on Ukrainian National


[Russia] - St. Petersburg Court Jails Woman 10 Years for Military Office Arson Attack


[Russia] - Ex-Governor Belykh Released From Russian Prison After Serving 8-Year Sentence


South Korea Summons Russian Ambassador Over Pyongyang Defense Pact


Wave of Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Russia Kills 1


[Russia] - U.S. Bans Russia's Kaspersky Antivirus Software


Putin Does Not Rule Out Sending Arms to N.Korea, U.S. ?Incredibly? Concerned


[Russia] - Prison Conditions of Putin Critic Yashin Deteriorating-- Lawyer


[Russia] - As Power of Siberia 2 Pipeline Stagnates, So Do Russia's Hopes for Pivoting Gas Exports Eastward


[Russia] - Moscow Court Extends Detention of Ex-Deputy Defense Minister Ivanov


[Russia] - Ukraine Says 10 Children Returned From Occupied Territories


Severe Storm in Moscow Kills At Least 2


Russian Cyclist Vlasov Turns Down Olympics Spot


[Russia] - EU Targets Russia's LNG Sector in New Sanctions Package


[Russia] - Russia's Sberbank to Offer Corporate Client Services in Occupied Eastern Ukraine


[Russia] - Urals Court Opens Treason Trial Against Dual U.S.-Russian Citizen


[Russia] - Russia Pounds Ukrainian Energy Sites in Latest Attacks


Overnight Ukrainian Drone Attacks on Russia Kill 1, Set Oil Depots Ablaze


[Russia] - Russia and Vietnam Vow to Strengthen Ties as Putin Visits Hanoi


Putin's Ministers Ejected From N. Korean Negotiation Room for Entering Before Kim Jong Un


[Russia] - Russian Forces Intensify Assault on Ukrainian Frontline Town


Russia Accuses France of Risking War in South Caucasus After Armenian Arms Deal


Russia, North Korea Sign Mutual Defense Deal as Kim Pledges Support for Ukraine Invasion


[Russia] - In Photos: North Korea Rolls Out the Red Carpet for Vladimir Putin


[Russia] - Ex-Presidential Hopeful Nadezhdin Resigns as Municipal Deputy


[Russia] - Canada Sanctions 13 Russian Officials Over Navalny's Death


Norway Jails Ex-Wagner Commander for Beating Woman, Attacking Bartender


Moscow Says Awaits U.S. Response to Prisoner Swap Proposals


Russian Court Jails American Soldier for Theft, Death Threats


Putin Hails North Korea?s Support for Ukraine War as He Lands in Pyongyang


Moscow Court Remands Journalist Kriger on ?Extremism? Charges


[Russia] - Mine Blast Kills 2 in Russia's Bryansk Region


Russia Refuses to Release Journalist Alsu Kurmasheva


Branded ?Foreign Agents,? Wives and Mothers of Mobilized Russian Soldiers Face Uncertain Future


[Russia] - Estonia Jails Russian Professor 6 Years for Spying


Leroy Merlin?s Former Russian Business Changes Name


Moscow Police Arrest 3 After Mass Food Poisoning


[Russia] - Putin Hails Pyongyang's Support for Ukraine War Ahead of North Korea Trip


Russia to Hold Naval Drills in Pacific Ocean, Sea of Japan


[Russia] - Ukrainian Drone Attack Sets Oil Tanks Ablaze in Southern Russia


[Russia] - Putin Promotes 'Cousin' in Latest Military Shake-Up


?One Name, One Life, One Plaque?: Russian Project Installs Reminders of Soviet Repressions


Dozens Hospitalized in Moscow Amid Mass Food Poisoning Incident


Kremlin Confirms Putin's Trip to North Korea


[Russia] - Russia's FSB Arrests Ex-Official Accused of Embezzling $22.6 Mln


[Russia] - Humpback Whale Rescued Near Russia's Murmansk Region


U.S. Soldier Held in Russia Denies Threatening to Kill Girlfriend


Kremlin Says Ukraine Peace Summit Produced 'Zero' Results


[Russia] - Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for IStories Head Editor Anin


[Russia] - Putin Appoints Former 'Business Tsar' Titov as Special Representative


U.S. Reporter Gershkovich to Stand Trial in Russia on June 26


Peace Summit Calls for Dialogue With Russia, Backs Ukraine's 'Territorial Integrity'


Russian Journalist Killed in Ukrainian Drone Strike


[Russia] - Russian Prison Standoff Ends With Hostages Freed, Suspects 'Liquidated'


Islamic State Inmates Take Prison Guards Hostage in Southern Russia


[Russia] - Zelensky Says Will Present Peace Plan to Russia Once Agreed


Dutch Businessman Helps Russia Import Western Brands Like Nike, Lego ? Reuters


IOC Issues First List of Russians and Belarusians Eligible for Olympics


[Russia] - Ukrainian Shelling Kills 5 in Russian Border Town-- Governor


Sweden Says Russian Bomber Violated Its Airspace


[Russia] - Ukraine Fighting 'Intense' Battles in Donetsk Region


Russian Inflation Rises Once Again in May


Putin Says Almost 700K Russian Troops Fighting in Ukraine


[Russia] - Moldova Turns Back Plane Carrying Pro-Russian Activists





66