Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met in New York on Saturday for their first talks since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The meeting, held on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, took place amid strained relations between Moscow and Berlin, with Germany a close ally of Ukraine.
The ministers discussed bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine, although Lavrov said the talks had produced little new information.
“I told him that frankly … you could just have called me and said: ‘Read my statement’,” Lavrov told reporters after the meeting.
Wadephul used the talks to urge Russia to do “everything possible” to reach an agreement on grain exports through the Black Sea, amid efforts to restore the movement of Russian and Ukrainian grain and energy supplies.
“Time is of the essence: given the food shortages in many countries, particularly in the Global South, all parties must be willing to engage constructively,” Wadephul said, according to a German delegation source.
He added that a pragmatic solution could pave the way for further concrete steps.
Lavrov said Russia had discussed proposals for ensuring safe navigation in the Black Sea with India, Egypt and Turkey, potentially through bilateral agreements with the three countries.
He said Russia also needed separate discussions with Ukraine, but accused Kyiv of attacking vessels in the region.
Ukraine has said it is open to agreements and has blamed Russia for the consequences of the war.
Tensions Over Leipzig Airport Incident
The meeting also came amid renewed tensions following an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany in August.
The German government said this month that it had concluded Russia was responsible for the incident and announced the closure of a Russian consulate and cultural centre in Berlin.
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Russia’s embassy in Berlin rejected the accusation as a “fabricated provocation” and described it as part of what it called a new wave of anti-Russian sentiment in Germany.
Wadephul also called on Russia to abandon what he described as a dangerous path of escalation towards Germany, Europe and NATO.
He told Lavrov that incidents such as the attempted attack in Leipzig and further alleged hybrid attacks would not weaken Germany’s resolve to support Ukraine, according to German delegation sources.
Wadephul later informed his European allies about the meeting, reiterating Germany’s call for an immediate and complete ceasefire in Ukraine, with particular emphasis on grain exports and energy infrastructure.
