German and Russian top diplomats hold first talks since Ukraine invasion
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov met on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Sept. 26, their first encounter since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Wadephul said Russia must end its war and hostile actions, and he raised a Munich arson attack on a drone manufacturer that German authorities have linked to Moscow. He also urged Russia to permit Ukrainian grain exports through the Black Sea, warning of food shortages in the Global South.
The Sept. 26 New York meeting was the first between Germany’s Johann Wadephul and Russia’s Sergey Lavrov since Moscow’s full-scale invasion. Wadephul said Berlin would back diplomacy only for a sustainable peace. He raised a Sept. 3 Munich arson attack on a Ukraine-supplying drone maker, which German authorities linked to Moscow, and called the Leipzig airport incident unacceptable.
Wadephul urged Russia to allow Ukrainian Black Sea grain exports, warning of starvation in the Global South. The report cites Russian strikes on ports and civilian vessels, including a Tanzania-flagged ship on Sept. 17 that killed its captain and injured three crew. Ukraine’s Andrii Sybiha said Wadephul later briefed him.
The meeting may signal a narrow diplomatic channel, but without follow-through it could leave Ukrainians facing continued attacks and Black Sea export disruptions. German citizens and businesses could see heightened security concerns after an arson attack German authorities linked to Moscow. Consumers in the Global South may remain vulnerable to grain shortages and higher food prices. The call with Ukraine’s foreign minister suggests Kyiv is watching closely, and any perceived concessions or failures could shape public trust in diplomacy.