German, Russian foreign ministers hold rare talks amid rising tensions

What the report says

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov held rare face-to-face talks in New York on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in the first such meeting between the two countries’ top diplomats since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. According to the article, the German side requested the meeting, which took place before Lavrov addressed world leaders.

Wadephul pressed Moscow to abandon what he described as a dangerous path of escalation with Germany, Europe and NATO, and later said he urged an immediate and complete ceasefire. He also said the discussion focused on the war in Ukraine, grain exports and energy infrastructure. A German delegation source told Reuters that Wadephul asked Lavrov to do everything possible to support an agreement on Black Sea grain exports.

Lavrov rejected the criticism and said he had not heard anything new beyond Germany’s public positions. In remarks to the UN and afterward, he accused Berlin of backing Kyiv and seeking a larger military role in Europe, while also questioning whether Germany had learned the lessons of World War II. He said Russia was in talks with other countries, including India, Egypt and Turkiye, on safe Black Sea navigation.

The meeting comes amid strained ties between Berlin and Moscow, which have remained frozen since the invasion and worsened after Germany blamed Russia for a drone incident near Leipzig airport last month. Russia denied involvement and accused Germany of fabricating evidence.