Lavrov is set to arrive at the OSCE (Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe) summit later on Thursday. Polish officials have said that they will walk out if Lavrov appears at the meeting.

Poland’s foreign minister, Radosław Sikorski, told TVP World at the summit: “Mr. Lavrov is coming here to lie about Russian invasion and what Russia is doing in Ukraine and I’m not going to listen to those lies.

“Today Russia is honoring neither the sanctity of borders in Europe nor human rights. It was given a chance to become more European, to mend and civilize its ways, but unfortunately its tyrannical political culture got the upper hand,” he added.

Czech Foreign Minister Jan Lipavský, when asked how he would react to Lavrov’s appearance, said: “I will not leave the summit but I'm not ready to listen to his poisoned lies.”

Lavrov’s trip to Malta is his first to an EU country since Russia launched its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

Following the invasion, Lavrov was subjected to sanctions by the EU, the U.S., the U.K., Canada, Australia and Japan. However, as foreign minister, he retains the ability to enter the European Union.