Russia, Germany's top diplomats hold first talks since 2022 at UN

Russia and Germany's top diplomats, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Johann Wadephul, held their first talks since 2022 at the UN General Assembly on Saturday. The discussions focused on bilateral relations and the ongoing war in Ukraine. Wadephul emphasized the urgency of reaching an agreement on grain exports via the Black Sea, as the curtailment of Ukrainian and Russian exports has significantly impacted global food supplies.

The German minister urged Russia to engage constructively, stating that a pragmatic solution could pave the way for further steps. The talks come amid deep tensions between Moscow and Berlin, which have been strained since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. The recent drone incident at Leipzig/Halle Airport in August further escalated the situation, leading Germany to close a consulate and a Russian cultural center in Berlin.

Wadephul called on Russia to abandon the path of escalation and emphasized that any acts of aggression would not deter Germany's support for Ukraine.

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