Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul have held their first talks since the onset of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly and was aimed at discussing the ongoing war in Ukraine as well as bilateral relations between their countries.
The discussions highlighted Germany’s steadfast position on the conflict, with officials reiterating Berlin’s support for Ukraine. Wadephul emphasized Germany’s call for a ceasefire and the initiation of negotiations to achieve lasting peace. The talks also addressed broader issues affecting Russian-German relations.
This meeting comes against a backdrop of heightened tensions between the two nations. In August, Germany accused Russia of attempting to target two cargo planes at Leipzig airport using an explosives-laden drone, further straining the diplomatic relationship.
Lavrov’s interaction with Wadephul marks the first such engagement with a German foreign minister since January 2022, when he met Annalena Baerbock, who held the position before Wadephul. That meeting occurred shortly before Russia’s large-scale military action in Ukraine commenced.
