Russia-Germany Talks Resume at UN After Four-Year Gap

Russia-Germany talks resumed at the United Nations on Saturday as Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov met his German counterpart Johann Wadephul. It was the first meeting between the two countries’ foreign ministers since before Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The regarding 20-minute encounter took place in New York on the fringes of the UN General Assembly. Relations between Moscow and Berlin have become more strained, with the Ukraine war continuing a key source of contention.

What the Russia-Germany talks focused on

During the meeting, Wadephul called on Russia to modify what Germany saw as a risky trajectory toward Germany, Europe and NATO. A German delegation official said Berlin was open to repairing ties with Moscow, but warned Russia would need to show a genuine commitment to bring the war in Ukraine to a conclusion.

The summit comes only weeks after an attempted drone strike at Leipzig airport in Germany. Berlin has accused Russia for the incident, followed by a series of retaliatory moves between the two nations.

According to German news agency dpa, the meeting was place in a room provided by the Russian side. The two ministers clasped hands at the end of the session.

Lavrov later played down the outcome. Speaking to reporters, he added that “nothing new came from” the session.

The meeting was followed by Lavrov’s presentation to the UN General Assembly, when he fiercely supported Russia’s position on the war in Ukraine and lambasted Western countries, notably Germany.

Lavrov also dismissed the concept of Germany or Japan gaining permanent seats on the UN Security Council. The United States has advocated permanent seats for Germany, Japan and India.

Russia-Germany talks come as Ukraine war continues

In his UN speech, Lavrov contended that the global balance of power was shifting and said a more multipolar international order was emerging. He also lambasted NATO and the United States, accusing Western countries of attempting to preserve their present power.

Russia has continued to depict itself as a significant global force despite its worsening relations with Germany and other Western nations.

At the same time, violence in Ukraine has remained severe. Russia has deployed missiles, glide bombs and jet-powered drones in assaults, while Ukraine has taken out long-range drone strikes against targets within Russia, including oil installations and enterprises.

Ukrainian officials claimed Russian airstrikes killed four people on Saturday. Russian police, meanwhile, confirmed three deaths following a Ukrainian drone assault.

The fighting has also hampered foreign supply of grain, petroleum and fertiliser. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has encouraged other nations to intensify pressure on Russia and limit the money available to fund its military assault.

The United States has also moved ahead with fresh sanctions legislation targeting Moscow. Trump signed the package into law last week, although the changes had not yet been enacted.

Zelenskyy said Washington was also pressing for technical meetings with US, Ukrainian and Russian representatives. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump had discussed such a meeting, but no final preparations had been approved.

Russia, Ukraine and the United States have already had three rounds of trilateral consultations this year. Those conversations did not create a substantial breakthrough.