Focus – Berlin-Moscow tensions, Lavrov sharply responds to German minister

– The foreign ministers of Germany and Russia, Johann Wadephul and Sergey Lavrov, held in New York the first high-level meeting between the two countries since Russia’s full invasion of Ukraine in 2022, according to Reuters.

The meeting took place yesterday on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, at a time when Berlin-Moscow relations remain tense.

During the talks, Wadephul asked Lavrov that Russia abandon what he described as a “dangerous path of escalation” toward Germany, Europe and NATO.

The German minister also asked that Moscow do everything possible to reach an agreement for the safe resumption of grain exports through the Black Sea.

Wadephul said the Black Sea exports issue must be resolved quickly, as several countries depend on these food supplies and could face shortages, especially in the Global South, and argued that a practical solution could open the way for other concrete steps.

He also called for an immediate and complete ceasefire in Ukraine, focusing on grain exports and energy infrastructure.

After the meeting, Lavrov said the German minister had told him nothing new.

According to him, Wadephul had only repeated what the German government had previously stated publicly.

Lavrov said there was no need to meet to hear these positions, because Germany had already made them public.

“I told him frankly that he could have called me and told me: ‘Read my statement,'” Lavrov declared.

Lavrov gave no signs of a change in Moscow’s position.

He said Russia is discussing with India, Egypt and Turkey proposals for guaranteeing safe navigation in the Black Sea, while for talks with Ukraine he demanded a different approach, saying they should take place not in the form of “demands”, but of “strong demands”.

Tensions between Berlin and Moscow have further escalated after the drone incident at Leipzig airport in Germany.

The German government said it had concluded that Russia was responsible and announced measures against Moscow.

The Russian embassy in Berlin has rejected the accusations, describing them as a fabricated provocation.

In his speech at the General Assembly after the meeting with Wadephul, Lavrov criticized Germany and European countries for their policy toward Ukraine.

He said Germany is one of Ukraine’s main supporters and questioned Berlin’s intention to strengthen its military role in Europe.

The meeting between the two ministers lasted about 20 minutes and, according to Wadephul, the parties did not reach agreement on the main points.

The German minister later said Russia continues to show no readiness for constructive negotiations.