On September 26, on the sidelines of the 81st session of the UN General Assembly, the first meeting at the level of foreign ministers of Russia and Germany took place since the beginning of the full-scale conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and his German counterpart Johann Wadephul held 20-minute talks, discussing bilateral relations and the situation in Ukraine.
Background and Context of the Dialogue
This meeting marked the first ministerial communication between Moscow and Berlin since January 2022, when Lavrov held talks with then-German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. According to the Russian Foreign Ministry, the initiative for the current dialogue came from the German side. Despite the resumption of contacts, both sides demonstrated deep divergences in their assessments of settlement prospects.
Content of the Talks and Moscow's Stance
Following the meeting, Sergei Lavrov told reporters that he had heard no fundamentally new points or initiatives from his German colleague beyond Berlin's previous public positions. The Russian Foreign Minister noted that Wadephul reaffirmed his stance against Russia and called for ensuring security in the Black Sea. Lavrov stated that Russia has discussed maritime security proposals with India, Egypt, and Turkey, but noted the need for separate discussions with Ukraine.
Contradictory Data
There are noticeable discrepancies in the presentation of the meeting's outcomes between the Russian and German sides. While the Russian Foreign Ministry emphasized the lack of new ideas from Berlin and issues regarding Kyiv's compliance, a source in the German delegation reported that Wadephul strongly urged Russia to agree on Black Sea grain exports, protect energy infrastructure, and achieve a ceasefire. Berlin also stated its intention to brief European allies and Ukraine on the results.
Expert Assessment and Consequences
Analysts note that the mere resumption of high-level contacts demonstrates the preservation of diplomatic channels even amid deep crisis. However, profound mutual distrust and sharply contrasting approaches to the Ukrainian settlement prevent any expectations of an immediate diplomatic breakthrough.
