German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has provided official clarifications regarding his recent meeting with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, which took place on the sidelines of diplomatic events. This contact has drawn immense global attention as it marks the first high-level dialogue of its kind between Berlin and Moscow since the outbreak of the large-scale armed conflict in Ukraine in 2022.
Reasons and motives for resuming dialogue
Answering questions from ZDF journalists, the German minister stressed that the decision to hold the meeting was not spontaneous. According to Wadephul, many international colleagues strongly recommended that the German side show diplomatic flexibility and restore channels of direct communication. In addition, the leadership of the German Foreign Office deemed it inappropriate to entirely cede the initiative on the negotiation track with Moscow exclusively to American partners, thereby preserving Europe's agency in strategic decision-making.
Principled positions and the Ukrainian issue
Despite the resumption of contacts, Berlin maintains a firm stance regarding Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity. Wadephul reaffirmed commitment to the fundamental principle of "nothing about Ukraine without Ukraine." During the conversation with Lavrov, the German diplomat explicitly pointed to the necessity of halting Russian aggression and the Kremlin's readiness for genuine constructive negotiations. The future of further contacts, according to the German Foreign Ministry, depends entirely on the practical steps taken by the Russian side.
Historical parallels and international context
Explaining his decision to engage with the Russian representative, Wadephul drew parallels with the Cold War era, noting that even during periods of intense global confrontation, channels for exchanging views between opposing sides were never completely closed. The German leadership emphasizes that deep systemic differences regarding the current security architecture in Europe require not isolation, but the direct articulation of positions at the highest diplomatic level.
