Russian and German foreign ministers hold first talks since the invasion of Ukraine

The foreign ministers of Russia and Germany met on Saturday in New York, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly, in the first talks of this kind since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Relations between Moscow and Berlin, a close ally of Ukraine, have been frozen since Russia’s invasion, while tensions escalated further after a drone incident at Leipzig/Halle airport in eastern Germany in August.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he learned nothing new from his German counterpart during talks that Berlin had not announced publicly in its official statements.

The ministers discussed bilateral relations and the war in Ukraine, according to officials from both sides.

German Foreign Minister Johann Vandevoll used the talks to ask Lavrov to do “everything possible to reach an agreement on grain exports via the Black Sea,” a source in the German delegation said.

The meeting comes amid diplomatic efforts to revive exports of Russian and Ukrainian grain and energy via the Black Sea, which have been severely limited by attacks on ships and port infrastructure.

Lavrov said Russia is in talks with India, Egypt, and Turkey on proposals to ensure safe navigation in the Black Sea, which could include bilateral agreements between Russia and those countries.

“There is a need for separate discussions with the Ukrainians, and not in the language of demands, but rather of requests,” he said, blaming Ukraine for attacks on ships.

Ukraine has said it is open to agreements and attributes all consequences of the war to Russia and its invasion.

Vandeful told Lavrov: “Time is critical: Given the food shortage in many countries, particularly in the South, all parties must be ready to cooperate constructively,” the source in the German delegation said.

The German minister also told Lavrov that “a realistic solution could pave the way for further concrete measures,” the source said.