Overview

• Top diplomats from over 50 countries, including U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, attended the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) meeting in North Macedonia, despite some countries boycotting due to Russia's participation.
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken accused Russia of violating core principles of the OSCE and obstructing the organization's work.
• Blinken made a brief visit to North Macedonia for the meeting and left for Israel hours later, not encountering Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov who arrived late.
• North Macedonia, a NATO member holding the OSCE’s rotating chairmanship, briefly suspended its ban on flights from Russia for Lavrov to fly in.
• The OSCE meeting started with a working dinner and will continue for two days to discuss the future of the organization and the challenges it faces.