UNITED NATIONS: German and Russian foreign ministers convened on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly on Saturday, marking what is believed to be their first direct engagement since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This encounter occurred amid rising tensions between the European Union and Russia, taking place just before Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov addressed world leaders. During the meeting, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul urged Russia to abandon its “dangerous path of escalation” toward Germany, Europe, and the NATO alliance, according to a German delegation official. Relations between Russia and Germany have deteriorated in recent weeks following an attempted drone attack at Leipzig airport last month, an incident Germany attributes to Russia, which prompted reciprocal responses. Wadephul indicated a willingness to improve relations, though he stressed this requires a genuine commitment from Russia’s leadership to end the war in Ukraine, the official noted. The German news agency dpa reported that the approximately 20-minute meeting occurred in a room provided by the Russian delegation and concluded with both ministers shaking hands. Following the meeting, Lavrov stated at a press conference that “nothing new came from” the conversation.
Subsequently, Lavrov launched a scathing critique of the West during his address. Following the meeting, Lavrov took the rostrum at the General Assembly, where he defended his country’s war in Ukraine and criticized the West, including Germany. He specifically opposed Germany or Japan obtaining permanent seats on the powerful UN Security Council, a stance that contradicts the longstanding US support for such seats for those nations and India. Criticizing NATO and the US—though not naming President Donald Trump—Lavrov argued that the West “continues to try to maintain its privileges and to impose its own rules on everyone else” despite shifting geopolitical realities. “A fairer, multipolar world order is emerging before our very eyes,” Lavrov stated. His country is part of the BRICS group of leading developing nations and other organizations, which he characterizes as more forward-looking and constructive. Moscow has repeatedly emphasized its strong global standing despite its 4½-year war on Ukraine and its isolation from the West.
Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for Russia’s Foreign Ministry, wrote on her personal Telegram channel that “tens of diplomats” had approached Lavrov to “shake his hand and thank Russia.” The speech came amid an intensifying aerial conflict. With front-line positions largely unchanged since last year, Russia has pummeled Ukraine with cruise and ballistic missiles, powerful glide bombs, and jet-powered drones in recent months, while Ukraine’s long-range drones have struck Russian oil refineries and businesses. Ukrainian officials reported that Russian attacks killed four people on Saturday, while Russian authorities stated that a Ukrainian drone attack killed three.
Since Russia launched the war—which Moscow describes as a “special military operation” intended to ensure its security and protect the rights of Russian speakers—Western analysts estimate that over 500,000 Russian troops have been killed, and Ukraine has recorded more than 500,000 military casualties, including up to 140,000 deaths. Neither nation discloses its own casualty figures. The conflict has also severely impacted global fuel, fertilizer, and grain shipments. The war has had global repercussions for these commodities, as well as geopolitics, widening the divide between Russia and the West.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky used his Wednesday assembly speech to urge other nations to continue strangling Russia’s revenues and impeding its war efforts, a message he reiterated on social media Saturday morning. “It is essential that our partners not forget: Russia is escalating every single day,” Zelensky wrote, adding that “the world must choose stronger responses to keep the war from spreading further.” US lawmakers passed a powerful sanctions bill targeting Moscow last month. President Donald Trump signed the bill into law last week but has yet to enact the measures.
Returning to Ukraine, Zelensky told reporters via voice mail messages on Friday that Washington is pushing for three-way, technical talks involving delegations—rather than top leaders—from the US, Ukraine, and Russia. He stated that Ukraine is awaiting a proposed date from the US. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Friday that Russian President Vladimir Putin and Trump discussed holding such a meeting in the near future during a call earlier this month, though no specific plans have been made. Speaking to reporters in St. Petersburg on Friday night, Putin condemned recent Ukrainian attacks deep inside Russia and in Russian-held areas of Ukraine. He stated that “proposals to resume the talks are all on the table,” but Moscow “will think carefully about what we need to do.” Representatives from the three countries held three rounds of three-way negotiations earlier this year but achieved no significant breakthroughs.
