Rare Germany-Russia foreign minister talks in New York yield no breakthrough

Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul and Russia's Sergei Lavrov met on Saturday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York, marking the first such talks since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The two discussed bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine, though little common ground emerged.

Wadephul urged Russia to abandon its "dangerous path of escalation" toward Germany, Europe and Nato, telling Lavrov that incidents such as the attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport would not weaken Germany's support for Ukraine. He also pressed Russia to do everything possible to secure an agreement on Black Sea grain exports, and afterward informed European allies he had called for an immediate ceasefire focused on grain and energy infrastructure.

Lavrov dismissed the meeting as producing "nothing new," accusing Germany of being Ukraine's principal backer and of seeking to become Europe's leading military power. He suggested Wadephul had merely restated Germany's official public condemnation of Russia rather than engaging in real dialogue.

Addressing the assembly afterward, Lavrov defended Russia's war in Ukraine, criticized Western nations including Germany, and condemned Japan's militarization. He confirmed Russia would veto any bid by Germany or Japan for permanent UN Security Council seats. A Russian foreign ministry spokesperson said numerous diplomats had approached Lavrov afterward to thank Russia.

The talks unfolded against a backdrop of intensifying aerial warfare, with Russia striking Ukraine in recent months using cruise and ballistic missiles, glide bombs and jet-powered drones, while Ukraine has targeted Russian oil refineries with long-range drones. Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Saturday that Russia was escalating daily and called for a stronger international response.

Russian strikes reportedly killed four people in Ukraine on Saturday, while Russian authorities said a Ukrainian drone attack killed three people in Russia. Kyiv residents are stockpiling generators and supplies ahead of winter, as Russia this week also struck several Kyiv datacentres and internet providers, targeting the city's digital infrastructure.