German, Russian foreign ministers meet for 1st time since full-scale war against Ukraine

The foreign ministers of Germany and Russia, Johann Wadephul and Sergey Lavrov, held their first official talks since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, meeting on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. Multiple international outlets, including the Straits Times, the Japan Times and the Moscow Times, confirmed that the meeting took place during the UN General Assembly session and was acknowledged by both foreign ministries. It marks the first direct diplomatic contact of this kind between the two countries in more than four years and is being described by observers as a notable development, regardless of whether it leads to concrete political progress.

According to consistent reporting, German Foreign Minister Wadephul used the meeting to convey clear demands to Russia. He reportedly stated that Russia must end its war of aggression against Ukraine and cease what Germany characterizes as hostile actions against Germany and its allies. The Kyiv Independent quoted Wadephul as urging Moscow to abandon its 'dangerous path' of escalation. Separately, the Philippine outlet Rappler, citing a source, reported that Wadephul also urged Lavrov to do 'everything possible' to reach an agreement on grain exports via the Black Sea. This particular detail could not be independently confirmed by the other available reports and is presented here as reported by Rappler.

On the Russian side, the meeting was likewise confirmed. Russia's Foreign Ministry stated, according to the Moscow Times, that the two ministers discussed bilateral relations as well as the war in Ukraine. No further details about the substance of the conversation or possible outcomes were made public by Russian officials.

Alongside his meeting with his German counterpart, Lavrov delivered an address to the UN General Assembly in which he defended the objectives of what Russia calls its military operation in Ukraine. According to reports from Al Jazeera and the New York Times, Lavrov vowed that Russia would pursue its goals in Ukraine 'through to the end.' The New York Times noted that Lavrov devoted a significant portion of his speech to defending Russia's actions in the war. CBS News further reported that Lavrov accused European countries of blocking peace negotiations over Ukraine, a claim that fits into the broader context of strained diplomatic relations between Moscow and Western states.

The situation on the battlefield remains marked by heavy losses, according to Ukrainian sources. Ukraine's General Staff reported that Russia's total combat losses since the invasion began on February 24, 2022, stand at approximately 1,528,970 personnel, including 1,690 losses over the past day alone, as reported by both the Kyiv Independent and Ukrinform. These figures originate from Ukrainian military sources and cannot be independently verified, though they are regularly published by Ukrainian authorities and widely cited internationally.

Beyond the diplomatic encounter between Berlin and Moscow, additional reporting from the sidelines of the UN gathering shows that Russia engaged in talks with other countries as well. According to Sputnik, Lavrov also met with Moroccan Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita to discuss bilateral relations between Russia and Morocco. Separately, a representative of Russia's Foreign Ministry, Vladislav Maslennikov, told Sputnik that Western actions regarding the Arctic Council were harming its effectiveness, and also criticized what he described as uncontrolled drone production in the European Union, which he said posed risks to Russia and other nations.

Another, more symbolic report from the same period, published by Geo News, described how the Russian Orthodox Church had sent part of the remains of a 600-year-old medieval prince to Russian troops fighting in Ukraine. This report is not directly connected to the diplomatic meeting but illustrates the religious and symbolic dimensions accompanying the war on the Russian side, as documented in parts of the coverage.

Overall, the available reports depict a cautious, first diplomatic contact between Berlin and Moscow after more than four years of open confrontation. While Germany articulated clear demands for an end to the war and a reversal of what it considers aggressive Russian conduct, Russia publicly reaffirmed its war aims and rejected accusations while leveling its own criticisms at European states. Whether the meeting will lead to further talks or to progress on issues such as Black Sea grain exports remains unclear based on current reporting. Neither Germany nor Russia has announced concrete next steps or a timeline for follow-up discussions.