Russian and German Foreign Ministers Hold Rare Meeting at UN
During a meeting at the United Nations General Assembly, German and Russian foreign ministers experienced tensions; Lavrov rejected Berlin's appeals.
In a rare meeting at the United Nations General Assembly, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov rejected calls for de-escalation from his German counterpart Johann Wadephul, criticizing Germany and opposing bids for UN Security Council membership.
Rare Contact at the UN General Assembly
At the request of German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, the foreign ministers of Germany and Russia met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. This meeting is noted as the first face-to-face encounter since Russia's full-scale intervention in Ukraine.
Germany's Call for De-escalation
A German delegation official stated that during the meeting, Wadephul urged Russia to abandon its dangerous path of escalation targeting Germany, Europe, and the NATO alliance. Wadephul emphasized that they remained open to improving relations, but this required the Russian leadership to demonstrate a genuine will to end the war in Ukraine.
Lavrov's Sharp Reaction to Berlin
In his remarks after the meeting, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that his German counterpart had repeated official public positions, leaving it up to them to decide whether this could be considered a dialogue. Lavrov argued that Germany was the primary sponsor of Ukraine and was seeking to become the leading military power in Europe.
Veto on Security Council Memberships
In his speech at the General Assembly, Lavrov criticized the militarization of Germany and Japan, clearly stating that Russia would veto all efforts by these countries to secure permanent seats on the United Nations Security Council.
Black Sea and Leipzig Airport Dispute
Speaking at a press conference, Lavrov criticized Germany for linking an alleged drone attack at Leipzig Airport to Russia, claiming it was an ownerless drone. He also asserted that no commercial vessels had been damaged by Russian attacks in the Black Sea.
Strategic Criticisms Directed at the West
Lavrov strongly condemned Western policies, stating that the West aimed to inflict a strategic defeat on Russia, but that these objectives would drive warmongers into a strategic dead end.