The Vienna conference center is hosting a significant meeting of the OSCE Ministerial Council for the first time this year.

Delegates from 57 participating states and 11 partner countries will attend the two-day event.

The Ministerial Council serves as a crucial decision-making body within the OSCE and provides a platform for foreign ministers to assess the current security situation in the region and review the Organization's performance across all its activities.

Traditionally, meetings are held in the capital of the country holding the chairmanship. In 2025, Finland will take on this role, yet the meeting will take place in Vienna to minimize transportation costs and environmental impact.

It was revealed prior to the Council that Sergey Lavrov will not be attending; instead, Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko will represent Russia.

Additionally, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not be present at the meeting.

The Ukrainian delegation is led by Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.

Ministers are expected to focus on the war between Russia and Ukraine, along with discussions on the abduction of Ukrainian children.

The OSCE Ministerial Council is the central governing body that reviews the activities of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe over the year.