11
UNITED NATIONS: Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul held talks on the sidelines of the 81st session of the United Nations General Assembly on Saturday, marking their first meeting since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
The two ministers discussed bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine, according to the Russian Foreign Ministry.
Wadephul urged Russia to take steps toward an agreement on the resumption of grain exports through the Black Sea. A German delegation source said the minister stressed the urgency of restoring grain shipments amid food shortages in a number of countries, particularly in the Global South.
The German minister said a pragmatic solution on Black Sea grain exports could create conditions for further concrete steps. Russian and Ukrainian exports through the Black Sea have been significantly reduced in recent months amid attacks targeting port infrastructure and vessels.
The talks took place against a backdrop of strained relations between Moscow and Berlin. Germany has accused Russia of responsibility for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August, allegations that Moscow has rejected as a fabricated provocation.
Wadephul also called on Moscow to avoid further escalation toward Germany, Europe and NATO, according to the German delegation. He said incidents involving alleged hybrid attacks would not alter Germany’s support for Ukraine.
The meeting represents a rare direct diplomatic engagement between the foreign ministers of Russia and Germany amid continuing tensions over the Ukraine conflict and broader European security.
