German and Russian foreign ministers meet for first time since 2022 invasion
Germany's Johann Wadephul and Russia's Sergey Lavrov met in New York during the UN General Assembly, the first meeting between their foreign ministers since Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Wadephul pressed for an agreement on Black Sea grain shipments, while Lavrov said he heard nothing beyond Berlin's public statements. The encounter reopened direct ministerial contact after years of strained relations, but neither side announced a ceasefire or a deal on shipping.
Geopolitics··Morning
Foreign ministers meet after years without contact
Germany's foreign minister Johann Wadephul met Russian counterpart Sergey Lavrov in New York on Saturday during the UN General Assembly. It was the first such foreign-minister meeting since before Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The foreign ministries had not maintained a comparable channel while their governments' relations deteriorated over the war. The two accounts agree on the participants, setting and significance of the contact. Russia's foreign ministry spokesperson said Germany initiated the meeting. Afterward Lavrov told reporters that Wadephul had said nothing beyond Berlin's public positions and suggested the same message could have come by telephone. Officials on both sides nevertheless acknowledged discussion of bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine. The meeting itself was a diplomatic step; neither side announced a wider settlement.[1], [2]
Wadephul presses for Black Sea grain shipments
A source in the German delegation said Wadephul urged Lavrov to do everything possible to reach an agreement allowing grain exports through the Black Sea. Attacks on ships and port infrastructure have sharply reduced Russian and Ukrainian shipments in recent months. Wadephul linked the disruption to food shortages in countries of the Global South and argued that time was short. According to that source, he said a practical solution on shipping could clear a path to further concrete steps. Lavrov said Moscow had been discussing safe navigation with India, Egypt and Turkey, perhaps through bilateral arrangements with those countries. He added that separate talks with Ukraine were needed but should proceed in the language of demands rather than requests, and he blamed Ukraine for attacks on vessels. Ukraine says it remains open to agreements and assigns responsibility for the war's disruption to Russia's invasion.[1]
The meeting follows a sharper Berlin–Moscow dispute
Wadephul later told European allies in a message seen by Reuters that he repeated Germany's position on Russia's war against Ukraine and called for an immediate, complete ceasefire. He singled out grain exports and energy infrastructure as pressing matters. The contact came after Germany said Russia was responsible for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August; Moscow's embassy rejected the allegation. Berlin retaliated by closing a Russian consulate and a Russian cultural centre. A German delegation source said Wadephul urged Lavrov to abandon what Berlin calls a dangerous path of escalation toward Germany, Europe and NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. He also said such incidents would not weaken German support for Ukraine. The two ministers left without announcing a shipping agreement or a change in their governments' positions.[1]
