Permanent Representative Lukashevich predicted problems for Russia in the OSCE because of Finland

Finland is an anti-Russian country, and its chairmanship in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) may create problems for Russia. This was stated by Russia's permanent representative to the OSCE Alexander Lukashevich on December 26.

He noted that the chairmanship in 2025 will pass to the Scandinavian country from Malta. In addition, Helsinki will then also chair the Forum for Security Cooperation.

"Thus, on the eve of the Ministerial Council in Vienna, we can expect serious problems, given the aggressively anti-Russian attitude of this country," Lukashevich said in a conversation with RIA Novosti.

The Permanent Representative emphasized that the prospects for interaction between Moscow and Helsinki are far from optimistic, which is alarming for the future of the OSCE. It is important that Finland will head not only the organization itself, but also its Parliamentary Assembly (PA), and this is an unprecedented situation that will further complicate the work.

At the same time, Lukashevich expressed hope that Russia will still be able to pave some "path" to the future and maintain a channel of communication in the OSCE despite the confrontational atmosphere. Nevertheless, it is not excluded that the Scandinavian state will finally destroy this platform.

The Permanent Representative to the OSCE drew attention to the fact that the international organization needs a responsible chairman, but Russia now does not see who among foreign leaders could assume such a role. Lukashevich noted that new politicians do not know history, do not look into the future and make mistakes. At the same time, the OSCE is built on other theories and practices. Turning into its opposite, it will lose prospects.

"The degradation of the OSCE in all dimensions of security is taking on catastrophic proportions"

Alexander Lukashevich, Russia's Permanent Representative to the organization, on its incapacity, its role in resolving the Ukrainian crisis and difficulties in working with Western opponents

On December 25, Lukashevich said that many OSCE member states began to directly support the interests of NATO and the European Union. Thus, the international organization found itself somewhere on the sidelines and simply serves the interests of the West. In addition, there is an atmosphere of "anti-Russian hysteria in the OSCE, when Russia is accused of all possible sins."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, speaking at the summit of OSCE foreign ministers, said that there are no more areas in which this organization can be useful in terms of its tasks. Lavrov noted that it could be a point where the interests of representatives of the European space are united, but "no one in this room will ever think of using the OSCE for these purposes." The minister noted that the West, especially the United States, has already taken NATO and the EU under its thumb, and this does not make anyone better off.