US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will lead the US delegation at the upcoming OSCE Ministerial Council in Skopje on November 29 and 30, focusing on Ukraine’s support alongside OSCE colleagues. There’s uncertainty about a potential meeting between Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, as stated by US Assistant Secretary of State for European and Eurasian Affairs, James O’Brien.

Addressing Kosovo and Serbia, O’Brien highlighted the importance of a secure and peaceful northern Kosovo for political progress. He emphasized that any disruption there could affect their relations with NATO.

Regarding the NATO ministerial meeting in Brussels, O’Brien outlined three main sessions: one focusing on the Alliance’s future, particularly the upcoming 75th anniversary summit in July; another session discussing the Western Balkans, reaffirming NATO’s commitment and support for the region’s EU aspirations; and a third session focusing on Ukraine. This meeting aims to acknowledge recent EU enlargement steps and discuss the role of security in aiding the Western Balkans’ progress towards their European goals.