German FM Wadephul Meets Lavrov in New York: First Germany-Russia Talks Since 2022

German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul (CDU) held talks with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov in New York on September 26, on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly's general debate. It is the highest-level bilateral meeting between Germany and Russia since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The meeting was confirmed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who noted that the German side had initiated the contact. According to Deutsche Welle and the Zeit newspaper, the two ministers discussed the war in Ukraine and the prospects for diplomatic engagement.

Significance of the Meeting

The Wadephul-Lavrov encounter marks a shift from Germany's prior policy of avoiding direct ministerial contact with Moscow following the February 2022 invasion. Germany had previously refused such meetings under Chancellor Scholz's government, but the new CDU-led government under Friedrich Merz has signaled a more pragmatic approach to diplomacy with Russia.

Earlier, on September 23, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio also met with Lavrov in New York. After that meeting, the Russian Foreign Ministry said Lavrov complained to Rubio about Ukrainian strikes on objects inside Russia.