Russia and Germany Hold First Talks Since 2022

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly on September 26, in their first such talks since before Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The ministers discussed bilateral relations and the war, while Wadephul urged Russia to pursue an agreement on grain exports through the Black Sea, according to statements and accounts from officials on both sides. A German delegation source said Wadephul stressed that food shortages in several countries, particularly in the Global South, made the issue urgent. He argued that a pragmatic solution could enable further steps. No agreement or concrete commitment from the meeting was reported. The talks took place as Russian and Ukrainian exports through the Black Sea have been disrupted by attacks on ports and vessels. Ukraine and its allies have sought a limited ceasefire covering the Black Sea and energy infrastructure. Russia has not publicly indicated support for those proposals, according to the reports. Lavrov later said he had heard nothing new from Wadephul that Berlin had not already stated publicly.