Closer to practical: OSCE Secretary General expressed his desire to work with Russia

The OSCE did not play any role in preventing the formation of conditions for its own, although it could have done so, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia. Against the background of the intensification of the dialogue between Russia and the United States, the OSCE Secretary General visited our country for the first time in three years. And he arrived just at the moment when Moscow was repelling the most massive drone attack. On March 11, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov discussed with the new head of the organization, Feridun Sinirlioglu, the safety of journalists, improving the effectiveness of OSCE structures, as well as ways to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. At the same time, the approaches of the West, in particular, the idea of sending peacekeeping forces, are not supported in Moscow. A source familiar with the situation told Izvestia that Russia considers it premature to talk about foreign troops.

Negotiations between Lavrov and Sinirlioglu

The normalization of the dialogue between Russia and the United States, which began after the change of administration in the White House, seems to set a positive example for the West. On March 11, Feridun Sinirlioglu, Secretary General of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE), visited Moscow for the first time since 2021. The new Secretary General was appointed at the end of last year and came to the Russian capital at the invitation of the Russian Federation.

Russia does not hide that it is critical of the organization's work. Moscow emphasizes that all the original principles of the OSCE are grossly violated and ignored, and the structure itself is in a very deep crisis, into which it has been driven by the countries of NATO and the European Union. However, Russia, as Sergey Lavrov pointed out, hopes that the new head of the OSCE will be able to return the structure to its roots.

— The organization has big problems. She played no role in preventing the formation of conditions for a special military operation, although she could have done so," Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the President of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.

One of the key topics of discussion was the ways to resolve the Ukrainian conflict. So far, there are no plans to involve the OSCE in this, Sergey Lavrov pointed out. However, Feridun Sinirlioglu acknowledged that it is necessary to restore the OSCE to its former relevance, and Russia is an important partner with whom we need to continue working on issues of peace and security in Europe.

— The OSCE stands ready to support efforts to end the war in Ukraine and beyond in any way that can benefit the parties. As the OSCE Secretary General, I am ready to provide the necessary assistance," he said.

For several weeks now, European countries have been actively discussing the possibility of sending "peacekeeping forces" to Ukraine after the ceasefire. The main supporters of this idea remain the leaders of France and Britain, Emmanuel Macron and Cyrus Starmer. According to Western media reports, Paris and London are promoting the creation of the Europe-Plus group of countries, which is going to participate in the possible deployment of contingents in Ukraine to ensure security guarantees. Starmer and Macron are trying to convince Donald Trump of the benefits of such an initiative.

Russia has repeatedly stated that it does not support the appearance of the armed forces of Western countries under any flag. Speaking at a press conference, Sergey Lavrov noted that the proposals to send peacekeepers to Ukraine so far look like an attempt to save the remnants of the Kiev regime "from the wrath of the people." However, the root causes of the conflict will not be resolved.

"Russia considers it premature to talk about peacekeepers," a source familiar with the situation told Izvestia. — Before that, peace negotiations should begin, as a result of which a mandate for a specific mission may be created. Macron is teaching the public about the very possibility of peacekeepers, which is harmful.

However, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said on March 11 that there are "other ways to ensure Ukraine's security" after the cease-fire, except for "sending European forces."

The attack of Ukrainian drones and the list of journalists

Sinirlioglu's visit to Moscow coincided with the largest attack by Ukrainian drones deep into Russia. According to the Russian Defense Ministry, over 340 drones were shot down on the night of March 11. At least 18 people (including three children) were injured, and three adults died. Especially many drones were destroyed in the skies over Moscow and the Moscow region: some of the debris hit residential buildings and other buildings, and fires broke out. By the way, one of the targets of the attack by the drones of the Armed Forces of Ukraine was the Transneft Druzhba station in the Bryansk region, as a result of which oil supplies to Hungary were suspended. Budapest condemned the attack by Ukraine, calling it unacceptable.

Feridun Sinirlioglu examined the consequences of the drone attack. A few hours before the negotiations, he was taken to Vidnoye, near Moscow. The OSCE Secretary General was accompanied by Russia's Permanent Representative to the OSCE, Alexander Lukashevich. However, commenting on the situation at the final press conference, the official did not directly answer the question of whether the organization would condemn the attack of Ukrainian UAVs on Russia. Sinirlioglu only expressed hope that everything would be over soon and there would be no more such attacks.

— It is a great success that we managed to take him to these places and show him everything, because now the OSCE is in a somewhat ambivalent position. On the one hand, they cannot but admit that their Secretary General visited these places, and on the other hand, they must react to this somehow," Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council on Interethnic Relations under the President of the Russian Federation, told Izvestia.

The expert admits that the OSCE may eventually condemn Kiev's actions, but the criticism will be quite mild.

"Since the OSCE is still more of a European structure, and Europe is still aggressive towards us, most likely the reaction will be very weak," Bohdan Bezpalko said.

Another important topic of the meeting was the issue of protecting journalists. Sergey Lavrov said that Russia had handed over to the OSCE Secretary General a list of specialists who had died in the line of duty since the beginning of 2022. He added that Vladimir Solovyov, chairman of the Russian Union of Journalists, wrote an open letter to Sinirlioglu on this topic. Several Izvestia journalists, in particular, war correspondents Semyon Eremin and Alexander Martemyanov, were among those killed in the SVR zone.