Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul held talks on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, marking their first meeting since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The two foreign ministers discussed bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine, according to Russia’s Foreign Ministry.
During the meeting, Wadephul urged Moscow to do “everything possible to reach an agreement on grain exports via the Black Sea”, according to a source from the German delegation.
Russian and Ukrainian exports through the Black Sea have been significantly disrupted in recent months as both sides have targeted ports and vessels. Ukraine and its allies have been seeking a limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea and attacks on energy infrastructure.
Russia has not publicly indicated that it supports those proposals.
Germany Calls For De-Escalation
Wadephul told Lavrov that “time is of the essence” because of food shortages in several countries, particularly in the Global South.
“All parties must be willing to engage constructively,” he said, according to the German delegation source.
The German foreign minister also argued that “a pragmatic solution could pave the way for further concrete steps”.
Relations between Moscow and Berlin have deteriorated sharply since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Germany emerging as a key supporter of Kyiv.
Tensions increased further after a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in eastern Germany in August. The German government said it had concluded that Russia was responsible and announced measures including the closure of a Russian consulate and a Russian cultural centre in Berlin.
Russia’s embassy in Berlin rejected the allegations, calling them a “fabricated provocation” and part of what it described as a new wave of “anti-Russian hysteria”.
During his meeting with Lavrov, Wadephul also called on Moscow “to abandon the dangerous path of escalation vis-à-vis Germany, Europe, and NATO”.
According to German delegation sources, Wadephul said incidents such as the Leipzig airport episode or further hybrid attacks would not weaken Germany’s commitment to supporting Ukraine.